MAY. 43 



The beginning of this month the old smelt begin to 

 pack and draw downwards on their passage to salt 

 water, when vast shoals make their halts on the tops 

 and hovering parts of the streams of the Ure ; which 

 affords the Ripon angler as animated sport as he can 

 wish. On meeting with a shoal on a fine forenoon, at 

 low water, they will frequently race each cast at every 

 fly on the stinting. They take small red hackles and 

 flies the maggot and codbait are excellent auxiliaries. 

 The first May flood takes the main body away, but 

 many of the largest pass Ripon the latter end of this 

 month. 



i MAY. 



HAIL, smiling May! Queen of the year robed in 

 bright emerald spangled with garlands of blossoms 

 and flowers. She chaunts her joys in wide spread 

 melody; and charms the light heart of the angler. 

 Myriads of flies flock the air ; the pregnant waters 

 teem with life ; and the tyrant trout, night and day, 

 revels and fattens in carnage. 



The merry smelt, in tints of blue, 

 Forsakes its home and bids adieu 

 To its native streams their first, best nurse ; 

 And to the ocean steer their course. 



E 



