32 MAKING A FISHERY. 



into consideration that there are among the 

 best fishermen few, if any, who can invariably 

 be certain that a feeding fish is takeable. Even 

 granted that a past master can be sure of this, 

 and will abstain from casting over any he may 

 think unsizeable, how often will some wretched 

 little yearling or two-year-old seize the fly before 

 it has reached the rising trout for which it was 

 intended ? I fear the result of abrogating the 

 customary rule of returning undersized fish 

 would be to deplete a stream of the store fish, 

 and in a few seasons reduce the river to a 

 deplorable state. It may be laid down, that if 

 out of three fish landed the angler can keep one 

 and has to return two to the water, the limit of 

 size imposed may be deemed a fair one. 

 Records of Accurate records should be kept of the trout 



taken by the fishermen and their friends, as 

 well as full lists of all pike and other coarse 

 fish killed, and of stocking. For the pur- 

 pose of bringing all material questions before 

 the members, a report should be drawn up at the 

 end of each year, submitted either to a meeting 

 or to each of the members for approval, and 

 kept in a book accessible to all of them. Such 

 report should comprise the following : — A 

 resume of the accounts, with remarks on any 

 items where the expenditure seems excessive, 

 and where possible an explanation of the causes 



