134 In Pursuit of the Trout 



The Darenth fish seemed to me to be ex- 

 tremely game the whole of last season, and 

 one game trout of a trifle under a pound 

 taken the same day made the reel sing quite 

 a merry song for a few seconds, though the 

 water was neither deep nor strong. The 

 may-fly was on in small quantities through- 

 out the day, and especially in sunny intervals 

 after a refreshing shower or two, but the 

 fish would not look at the perfect insect, 

 though many of them in the evening were 

 ' bulging ' at the larvae ; they preferred the 

 modest little dun, and an occasional * curse,' 

 or midge. 



Two brace of trout in admirable con- 

 dition, the smallest over half a pound, and 

 the largest about a pound and a quarter, 

 form only a very moderate bag for the 

 Darenth about may-fly time ; but their 

 weight is apt to be appreciated when added 

 to the rest of the angler's impedimenta in 

 the course of a three-mile walk to the station 

 after a hard afternoon and evening's work. 

 Moreover, the primary object of fly-fishing 



