146 LIFE AND SPORT IN HAMPSHIRE 



Wye where the hatch of fly and rise of trout are 

 somewhat more scattered through the whole day than 

 on many waters. On our Hampshire chalk streams 

 the hatch and rise are sharply defined, but even here 

 one often hugs hope all day to find a good trout 

 moving, even though only an odd fly here and there 

 sails the stream. The beauty of the river scene 

 touches us throughout our angling day; but during 

 the active hour of that day perhaps five or six hours 

 out of a total of nine we cannot be more than under- 

 conscious of environment. It is steeped into us with- 

 out our being fully awake to the process. I do not 

 think any earnest dry fly fisherman of the chalk 

 streams would deny that, however great his love of 

 Nature, the watching, stalking, casting efforts of 

 angling must command nearly all the fully conscious 

 part of the man. There are intervals, I grant, when 

 the trout is at the back of the thoughts, and the scene 

 and delicious influences of Nature by the river come 

 to the front; and I will touch presently on these. 

 But far longer in each angling day they must be 

 in the background. We might not, I feel sure we 

 should not, take so kindly to this angling were the 

 scene less beautiful. Moreover the influence of the 

 scene is so strong in all our recollection of angling 

 episodes; it is felt years afterwards. Recalling our 

 adventures with large and difficult trout, we always 

 paint the scene in, and it gives pleasure. Yet the 

 truth remains that during these adventures, and in 



