60 FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF TKOUT. 



found under bridges (for the purpose of keeping them- 

 selves dry, as Paddy supposes), and in the return of a 

 stream, where the water boils round in an eddy. During 

 extreme heats in the middle of summer, and towards the 

 autumn, they mostly resort to mill-tails, the tails of 

 streams, and the still deeps, where good sport may be had 

 with the fly, during a brisk cool wind. 



As a general rule, about the end of May or beginning 

 of June, after the heats of summer have fairly set in, and 

 the waters become low> all the small and medium-sized 

 trout congregate in the still water at the tails of streams ; 

 while the larger ones snugly ensconce themselves be- 

 neath hollow banks, roots, bushes, or any other available 

 retreats during the day : scarcely ever coming out to 

 feed until the shades of evening summon them to chase 

 the minnows in the shallows, or gulp down any luckless 

 moth that may inadvertently alight on the treacherous 

 water. It is then that the accomplished minnow-spinner, 

 adroitly manoeuvring his bait in the rapids and shallows 

 under the encircling mantle of night, will succeed in 

 hooking his one, two, and three pounders, in places which 

 in the daytime seem scarcely fit to float a stickleback ; 

 or the enthusiastic fly-fisher will ever and anon hear a 

 sullen splash, and feel a sudden and determined pull at 

 his portly moth flies, very unlike the tiny tug of the 

 little shipjacks he is in the habit of pitching over his 

 head during the day. . While the professional poacher, 

 whose daily allowance of beer very much depends upon 

 the amount of piscine plunder he is able to glean from 

 the waters, may be observed cunningly sneaking, with 



