THAMES TROUT. 197 



fully repays one for all the patience that may have 

 to be exercised. Thames trouting spoils other 

 trouting as regards size of fish ; a two-pound or three- 

 pound trout from another river is thought little of 

 when you have landed some of the mighty Thames 

 fish. The tints of freshly-caught, well-conditioned 

 trout are admired by every angler, and so greatly 

 is the beauty of the fish increased by size that the 

 event of landing a large Thames trout is a memor- 

 able one, and an inveterate Thames trouter never 

 willingly relinquishes the sport. No day is too 

 long for him ; and hard luck is cheerfully endured, 

 for the time comes when a big fish makes up for all 

 disappointments. 



The fish vary as regards shape and colour, and 

 weirs with swift runs and little shelter pro- 

 duce better fish than those with gently- and y 

 flowing runs and easy lay-byes. Fish are Shepper- 

 more on the move in shallow, straight- 

 running weirs ; they are also better sporting fish 

 altogether, firmer and heavier, and much more 

 plucky when hooked. Trout are plagued by lice 

 and leeches, particularly in hot seasons or when 

 the water is very low ; those in Sunbury weir seem 

 to be specially subject to these pests. I have 

 never taken trout at Shepperton with either lice or 

 leeches on them ; and, in fact, the fish from these 

 two weirs are strongly contrasted, both in con- 

 dition and shape, though Sunbury Weir is the 

 next below Shepperton (for I do not count the little 

 tumbling bay near Walton a weir). The stream at 

 Shepperton is fierce and unbroken in its rush, 

 while the long fall at Sunbury is strewn with 

 boulders that check the water. The study of the 

 fish at these neighbouring weirs is most interest- 



