126 In Pursuit of the Trout 



period, the season is regarded as a good one, 

 and it is customary to put back anything 

 under about three pounds. A five-pounder is 

 a good, but not an exceptional, fish. The 

 keeper knew the osier-bed well, and explained 

 to me the exact quarters of something very 

 big, which he had seen thinning the drake 

 on the previous day. So I pushed my way 

 through, and, creeping to the edge of the 

 river, looked with feverish interest at the 

 water as it curled in an oily way round some 

 huge dock-leaves. If ever there were a place 

 for a heavy trout, this was it. It was secluded 

 to a degree, unassailable from any spot save 

 where I lurked, all eyes ; a deep pool, but not 

 too sluggish, and with abundance of rank 

 herbage, which big fish affect. Still, though 

 I waited and watched long, no sign of a fish 

 was vouchsafed. The beauty of the day 

 wore on, and the sun began to dip behind the 

 trees in its westering course. May-flies slid 

 over the water, caught against the stems of 

 the docks, were whirled into every eddy, and, 

 drifting back into the open stream, sped on- 



