NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 207 



ever, our captive's spirit is broken, his golden broadside 

 lies athwart the silvery stream ; and as he is " limp as a 

 log/' you slowly tug him ashore. " Don't present arms 

 with that net, but keep it out of sight until his tail end 

 can be got at first. Capital ! There I Safe at last, a 

 three-and-a-half pounder if an ounce j small danger of 

 your eclipsing this if you fish for a week. But now is 

 the prime time of the whole season, the fish are all 

 out and feeding, therefore it is the time for the angler to 

 weed out heavy fish, whose cannibal propensities are 

 exemplified the more weekly, monthly, and yearly, until 

 the water near their haunt is entirely depopulated. Let 

 us see how's the enemy? 2.15 P. M. You will extract 

 a heavy pannier before dinner, if you labor against time; 

 though the fun may furiously thicken, don't retain more 

 than your fill." 



Personally speaking we make a practice of drawing the 

 line at the lid of the creel, all conquests afterwards being 

 relinquished as soon as effected. This rule, humane 

 reader, we would commend to your acceptance, in all 

 exceptionally favorable circumstances, whenever practi- 

 cable. 



Should the weather prove fine, and favored with warm 

 sun, the flies will appear a few days earlier in each locali- 

 ty, but will terminate a week or so before their wonted 

 time. The genial weather and warm temperature of the 

 water admit of their attaining maturity almost simul- 

 taneously ; and in these circumstances, it naturally fol- 

 lows that their stay will be more limited. Chub are bold 

 risers at the May fly, and after the close time, that is 

 about the last week of the Drake, much diversion may 

 be derived from Mr. Leatherhead. Grayling and all 

 coarse fish come in season on the 16th of June. The 

 small flies, when numerous, tempt them from the slow- 

 running deeps to the rapids or shallows, where they con- 

 gregate in shoals, being a gregarious fish. The Little 



