THE COMMON TROUT. 279 



and smaller streams in early spring. The fishing season 

 also differs in the two Provinces, extending from the 1st 

 of April to the 20th of October in the Upper, and from 

 the 1st of February to the 20th of October in the Lower. 

 The height of the season is from the latter end of May to 

 the end of June ; during this period too the trout are in 

 their finest condition. 



Their usual run is from two or three ounces to two 

 pounds, size depending always less on age than on 

 the abundance and nature of their food. In respect to 

 the latter point, the most fattening is undoubtedly flies : 

 a fact which has been satisfactorily proved by an interest- 

 ing series of experiments made for the purpose of testing 

 their nutritious effect as compared with that of worms, 

 minnows, and other objects. 



The minnow is commonly considered the most 

 successful bait in the earlier months of the season, 

 though the fly is the best later. In the beginning of 

 May there is such an extraordinary visitation of insect 

 life on the surface of almost every water, that for the 

 short period during which it lasts no fish will look at an 

 artificial fly. These May flies, if not identical with ours 

 a point which I regret I did not investigate at the time, 

 very much resemble them, and alight in such myriads on 

 the water, that it is often literally kept in continual 

 agitation by the rising fish. 



