268 BRITISH FRESH- WATER FISHES 



of May. When they arrive at prime condition their flesh is 

 sometimes as red as that of a salmon ; at other times it 

 remains white, but not necessarily inferior in flavour. The 

 cause of this change doubtless is to be found in the food 

 of the fish, but the precise agent producing it is unknown. 



The trout is a ravenous feeder, and far from fastidious as 

 to the material of its meals ; but, like most fish, for uncertain 

 Food of periods and under unknown influences it sometimes 

 Trout, refuses all kind of food. Crustaceans, molluscs, 

 aquatic larvae, minnows, and other small fish, flies, and worms 

 are all acceptable in turn. The phenomenon of trout " coming 

 on the rise" is one with which fly-fishers are very familiar, 

 and for which they keep an eager look-out, because it means 

 that swarms of some species of subaqueous larvae have suddenly 

 and simultaneouely begun to pass from the stage of pupa to 

 that of imago, or perfect fly. The trout, which have hitherto 

 been preying upon what living animals they could find on the 

 bottom or in mid-water, become greatly excited, follow the 

 emerging flies to the surface, which is dimpled all over by the 

 fish as they suck them down in myriads. This is the fisher- 

 man's opportunity. By casting his counterfeit imitations of 

 the prevailing fly deftly, and keeping himself well out of sight, 

 he reaps his reward. 



The art of fly-fishing for trout is such a complicated and 

 difficult one that it would take a whole volume to describe its 

 practice — nay, have not whole volumes, many scores of them, 

 already been devoted to the mystery } Therefore I will say 

 no more in this place, save that it is the most sportsmanlike 

 and delicate way of capturing these pretty fish. The minnow, 

 natural or artificial, certainlv takes larger trout than can usually 

 be tempted to rise to the surface lure ; with the worm they 

 may be hauled out of flooded streams without the exercise of 

 much skill ; but with the artificial fly success is only to be 

 scored by the clumsy and inexpert where trout have not yet 

 learnt to dread the wiles of men. And how soon they come 



