WEEDING OUT VORACIOUS FISH. 237 



escape us as the scene is prolonged. Now, however, 

 our captive's spirit is broken, his golden broadside 

 lies athwart the silvery stream ; and as he is " limp as 

 a log," you slowly tug him ashore. " Don't present 

 arms with that net, but keep it out of sight until his 

 tail end can be got at first. Capital ! There ! Safe 

 at last, a three-and-a-half pounder if an ounce ; small 

 danger of your eclipsing this if you fish for a week. 

 But now is the prime time of the whole season, the 

 fish are all out and feeding, therefore it is the time for 

 the angler to weed out heavy fish, whose cannibal pro- 

 pensities are exemplified the more weekly, monthly, 

 and yearly, until the water near their haunt is entirely 

 depopulated. Let us see how's the enemy ? 2. 1 5 p.m. 

 You will extract a heavy pannier before dinner, if you 

 labour against time ; though the fun may furiously 

 thicken, don't retain more than your fill." 



Personally speaking we make a practice of drawing 

 the line at the lid of the creel, all conquests afterwards 

 being relinquished as soon as effected. This rule, 

 humane reader, we would commend to your accept- 

 ance, in all exceptionally favourable circumstances, 

 whenever practicable. 



Should the weather prove fine, and favoured with 

 warm sun, the flies will appear a few days earlier in 

 each locality, but will terminate a week or so before 

 their wonted time. The genial weather and warm 

 temperature of the water admit of their attaining 

 maturity almost simultaneously; and in these circum- 

 stances, it naturally follows that their stay will be 

 more limited. Chub are bold risers at the May fly, 



