TROUT. 19 



the fish rise only for an hour or so in the middle 

 of the day. Every month brings its own peculiar 

 insect host, and the trout-angler, observing these, 

 dresses his flies accordingly. The different nature 

 of rivers influences not only the supply of insect 

 food, but the fish. The trout of slow, southern 

 streams grow quicker and heavier than those of 

 the colder northern ones. Speaking generally, 

 the small-winged flies are taken during the day, 

 the larger-winged ones at night. The trout, like 

 other fish and some birds, does not swallow its 

 insect food until a considerable pellet has been 

 collected in the mouth. The weather influences 

 the distribution of fish in a river, especially trout. 

 And this remark applies to the different heights 

 of the water. A good trout-angler always knows 

 just where to find his game, not only as to season, 

 but as to wind and weather. In the cold of 

 winter, so in summer, the fish are found in the 

 deep dubs, and a favourite haunt in spring and 

 summer is upon the "draws" and rippling reaches. 

 At flood-time the fish are driven to the stream- 

 sides, worms and food being washed there ; and 

 then they have an aversion to be in rushing, 

 turbulent, or muddy water. Of course, trout are 

 found in tarns, ponds, lochs, as well as in rivers ; 

 but the latter they love and thrive in best. 

 Every one knows what a handsome fish the pink- 



c 2 



