256 THE TROUT ARE RISING 
naturally the trout is preferred at the table, 
because, in addition to the nourishing goodness 
of his flesh, there is so little trouble over the 
bones, once the backbone is removed. Fried or 
boiled, trout are a delicacy. At one house on the 
Bushman’s river I found a course of trout, boned 
and rolled, and then baked, which was a positive 
feast. 
Though there are always incidental differences, 
of course, yet one day’s fly-fishing on a river like 
the Mooi, when it is in normal condition, is much 
like another. No great records were aimed at, 
and at intervals a day was not spent at the river 
at all, or only an hour or so might be put in. 
The total bag, therefore, was modest, a period of 
nearly a month yielding fifty-two trout. The 
number was small, but the average weight was 
about half a pound, and anyhow the bag included 
delightful additions in the shape of health and 
happiness. 
One day was red-lettered. The bag totalled 
a baker’s dozen, and twice there was a double 
event, that is to say, two trout on the cast at once, 
one on each of the two flies in use, The first 
time, when the duet was just about to be con- 
cluded, and indeed when one trout was already in 
the net, the other trout gave a long pull and a 
strong pull and got its mate out of the net. 
Eventually one of them got off, the other one 
(the smaller) being finally netted. On the other 
occasion both trout were secured, and one was a 
good pounder. Experience by the earlier adven- 
