I70 SALMON AND TROUT. 



swallow from above and a trout from below dart upon the 

 same May fly : down came the swallow, and up came the open 

 mouth of the trout, into which, in pursuit of its prey, the 

 swallow pitched its head. The struggle to get separated was 

 short, but severe ; and the swallow was twice immersed, wings 

 and all, before it disentangled itself from the teeth of the 

 trout. I have myself known both swallows and bats to take the 

 artificial fly, and after an aerial combat to be ultimately netted 

 seaindjim artem. 



Although Ephemera vulgaris has been called the May, or 

 'Day,' fly — in common with its congeners, and, indeed, insects of 

 all kinds, it appears in greater numbers and exhibits increased 

 activity towards sunset. This, consequently, is usually the best 

 time for taking trout with the artificial fly, and especially 

 for the heavy fish, which until then lie concealed amongst 

 roots, under deep holes, and in other similar shelters. The 

 ' next best ' time is during the first freshness of the morning, 

 before the sun gets much power. 



The fly fisher, in fact, cannot be too early or too late at the 

 water ; and I have often killed the best fish of the day when it 

 was so dark that I could hardly see my rod, and had entirely 

 lost sight of my flies. At both these times larger sized flies 

 may be used than at others. Small flies are preferable on hot 

 windless days, or when the water is bright and low. When 

 water is much discoloured with rain so as to become opaque, 

 fly fishing is useless. The two golden maxims are, first, to 

 keep as far from the bank, and as much out of sight as pos- 

 sible ; and, secondly, always to use finer tackle than anyone 

 else on the river — and (your skill being equal) you will always 

 catch the most fish. 



The latter end of October or November, and thence up to 

 the beginning of February, is the usual spawning time of 

 trout — the operation, however, in each particular fish con- 

 tinuing only about eight days ; and at this period the under 

 jaw in old males exhibits in a modified degree the elongation 

 and upward curving characteristic of the male salmon at the 



