26 SALMONIA. 



PHYS. The number of flies seems to in- 

 crease as the day advances, and I never saw 

 a more animated water scene : all nature 

 seems alive ; even the water-wagtails have 

 joined the attack upon these helpless and 

 lovely creations from the waters. 



HAL. It is now one o'clock; and between 

 twelve and three is the time when the May- 

 fly rises with most vigour. It is a very warm 

 day, and with such a quantity of fly, every fish 

 in the river will probably be soon feeding. 

 See, below the wear, there are two or three 

 large trout lately come out; and from the quiet 

 way in which they swallow their prey, and 

 from the size of the tranquil undulation that 

 follows their rise, I suspect they are the giants 

 of this river. Try if you cannot reach them : 

 one is near the bank in a convenient place for 

 a throw, for the water is sufficiently rough to 

 hide the deception, and these large fish do 

 not take the fly well in calm water, though 

 with natural flies on the hook they might all 

 be raised. 



POIET. I have him ! Alas ! he has broken 

 me, and carried away half my bottom line. 

 He must have been a fish of 7 or 8 Ibs. What 



