24 THE SONG OF THE REEL. 



the Peacock, which Hotels are situated in the aforesaid market-town 

 and village respectively. At both these places there is a station on 

 the main line of the Midland Railway, between London and the 

 North. The number of tickets granted daily from each hotel is 

 limited to four ; consequently it is advisable to make inquiries well 

 beforehand, since a permit is not always available in the height of 

 the season. These houses provide first-class accommodation, and 

 the fishing is free, although, of course, a license costing i/- for a 

 week, or 2/6 for the season, must be purchased. 



So exceptionally open are the banks that this length of the 

 river is a most attractive one to fish ; and the quiet glides, slum- 

 berous pools and rippling shallows should satisfy the demands of 

 either the wet or the dry-fly man, be he ever so difficult to please. 

 Trout are plentiful and average about half-a-pound, although 

 specimens of double that weight are often caught. Trout under ten 

 inches in length must not be retained ; but for the grayling, which 

 considerably outnumber their noble neighbours, no size-limit is in 

 vogue. Artificial fly only is allowed. The flies should be small 

 and mounted on the finest of casts, for the fish are extremely wary, 

 their appetite fastidious, and their moods not to be anticipated. In 

 fact, even the experts doubt whether there are any trout in the 

 Kingdom harder to lure than those of the river upon whose banks 

 stands far-famed Haddon Hall. The May-fly usually appears on 

 this length at the beginning of June, but, of late years, the annual 

 Carnival has proved somewhat disappointing. 



Anyone who has visited Bakewell will have seen the trout that 

 lurk around the bridge there, and doubtless will have noticed 

 several curiously light-coloured specimens amongst them. If he 

 has not seen these fish the fault is entirely his own. For around 

 the bridge congregate the shrewdest and most self-conceited of the 

 fish of the Wye, whose sole object in life, apparently, is to exhibit 

 their ample proportions to the public view. They love to be seen 

 and admired by all, and to be coveted by the fisherman. They lie, 

 seemingly the most indifferent and leisured of fish, idly sunning 

 themselves in the vicinity of the bridge. Anglers yes ! skilled 



