48 MAKING A FISHERY. 



graph, he must proceed to consider the plan of 

 campaign. In dealing with this question, it 

 must be premised that efficiency is regarded 

 here in preference to mere economy, and hence, 

 if it is necessary to keep the expenditure down 

 to a minimum, the scheme suggested must 

 be modified in detail. Provided the weeds had 

 been properly cut in the previous autumn, or 

 after a severe winter has effectually caused 

 them to rot away, a chalk stream in the early 

 spring will be found to err, if anything, on the 

 side of being too bare. At the opening of the 

 fishing season, when the trout are comparatively 

 unsophisticated, the absence of weed on the 

 shallows and deeps is not a matter of any 

 moment. In genial weather, especially if 

 accompanied by frequent warm showers alter- 

 nating with intervals of sunshine, the growth of 

 all aquatic vegetation increases rapidly, so that 

 by the end of April or early part of May the 

 first cutting of the weeds must be undertaken. 

 Spring weed In the spring cutting the desideratum is to 



leave sufficient weeds to give adequate shelter 

 to the trout, and yet not too much for the peace 

 of mind of the fisherman. If there is any 

 doubt as to what is the juste milieu, it is 

 preferable to lean to the policy of leaving too 

 much rather than too little, and, profiting by 

 past experience, correct this error in subse- 



cutting. 



