APRIL 77 



been hovering in front of the hawthorn 

 at the head of the pool is safely in the 

 creel. On a fine bland noontide last 

 spring the trout weighed, respectively, 

 1 lb., If lb., and 2j lb. Each of them had 

 been gobbling the March Browns and the 

 duns at the rate of a dozen or so a minute, 

 and each had taken the Woodcock at or 

 about the first time of asking. 



What, however, was that fish which 

 had been rising, less regularly, beyond the 

 middle of the stream ? There the water 

 was just a little more rapid than trout 

 approve so early in the season ; all the 

 other fish had been hovering, within 

 five feet of the bank, in what might be 

 called a bay. The best mode of answer- 

 ing the question was, if it were possible, 

 to raise him. 



Raised he was, and that at the first 

 cast ; and his species was instantly evident. 

 There was no pulling this fish downstream. 

 He went up, a good many yards past the 

 hawthorn, fortunately well out on the 

 other side, so that the line was not en- 



