74 AN ANGLER'S HOURS v 



At any rate, the fact remains that, given a 

 good rise of the May-fly, a moderately skilful 

 angler is practically certain to take a good 

 basket of fish on almost any water. 



It is natural that after so large a banquet 

 as is provided for them by the short-lived 

 insect the trout should not feed so well as 

 they did before it, and that the angler should 

 consequently fare worse ; and it is also 

 natural that he should grow somewhat 

 weary of the ill luck which is usual in July 

 and August. By usual I do not mean to say 

 invariable, for, of course, fish may be caught 

 on the most hopeless days ; but in these 

 two months empty baskets are sure to be 

 frequent, and the sport on the whole poor. 



The general fisherman will not complain 

 at the behaviour of the trout in the dog- 

 days, for he has his bottom rod to keep him 

 employed ; and there is really no reason for 

 the fly -fisher to complain either, if he 

 follows the example of his fellow-angler 

 and directs his energies to the capture of 

 other kinds of fish, which provide excellent 

 sport to the fly, and are in their several 

 ways just as interesting to fish for as trout. 



I think that angling writers have never 



