To Mountain Tarn 



sleep, not all at once. A few remain after the 

 rest. There is a sort of second spring, where 

 are flies, but not enough to sate. The rise is not, 

 as in chill April, that of hungry, half-fed trout, 

 wherever March Brown lights, but a sullen 

 wallop for change of diet. In a season of dry, 

 hot, forcing weather, is a gap after the passage of 

 summer forms when the later insects appear, the 

 rising is eager enough. 



As a further charm, August closes the fishing. 

 The trout have matured into their perfect mould, 

 only to change. Though the form is generally 

 maintained to the last day of the month, through 

 the early weeks of September the deterioration 

 becomes plain. Even yesterday, the 2oth of Au- 

 gust, a trout, full and perfect as trout could be, still 

 showed a tell-tale margin of white on the fins. 

 The season may have forced the fish as well as 

 the flies. It was the first hint that sport was 

 drawing near an end. 



Some fish on to the last lawful day. They go by 

 book. The angler's book is nature ; he guides 

 himself by what he sees there. As a general 

 rule, he finds that August is as long as he cares to 

 fish for trout. No one year is like another, so he 

 may fish on a few days longer, or stop a week 

 earlier, as he finds the trout slower or faster in 

 passing their best. In no case does he care to 

 trouble fish which have on them the marks of 

 early spawning. 



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