138 AN ANGLER'S HOURS ix 



not an unalloyed misfortune. When small 

 fly is plentiful enough to satisfy both angler 

 and fish, a stream is sufficiently blessed and 

 artificial excitements are not required. 



But there is one aspect of the drake in 

 which his value can hardly be over-estimated. 

 Many trout-streams in their lower reaches 

 hold a quantity of coarse fish, whose influence 

 on the trout is to make them large and 

 few, and (for evil associations corrupt good 

 manners) to render them indifferent to 

 surface food. These waters in consequence 

 become quite useless for legitimate fly-fishing 

 except during the brief carnival of the May- 

 fly. Then, and then only, has the angler 

 a chance, for no trout, however large or 

 addicted to minnows, can refrain from join- 

 ing in the prevalent enthusiasm. And so 

 you shall find a fish of five pounds feeding 

 as eagerly as any troutling ay, and catch 

 him too if luck is with you, and then your 

 happiness should be complete. Is not a 

 great fish like that taken fairly with the fly 

 worth a basket filled never so full with 

 pounders ? And are there not on the records 

 of most streams inscribed the tales of trout 

 taken with the May-fly of five, six, and even 



