73 



gale were not British birds, though all these 

 birds continue a shorter time in our island 

 than, it is probable, the salmon does in our 

 rivers ? 



Oliver. Whitlings are indeed fine fish, 

 but they are rather more dainty in their 

 tastes, and do not bite so freely as the com- 

 mon burn trout. 



Reed. That may be because they are nei- 

 ther so plentiful, nor at all times in the river; 

 for they certainly visit the sea, as is proved 

 by their sometimes having the sea-louse on 

 them, like the salmon, on their return to 

 fresh water. I was out yesterday morning 

 below Ford, and out of seven that I caught, 

 there were only two that were less than four- 

 teen inches, and each of these measured a 

 foot. 



Oliver. What sort of fly did you use, and 

 at what time were you out ? 



Reed. I cannot very well tell you the 

 najne of the fly, though south country an- 

 glers would most probably call it the grey 



