28 TROUT FISHING 



species, they do sometimes lose their 

 judgment and discretion. Besides, the 

 natural assumption, although not quite 

 consciously, is already made by anglers 

 generally, and is even expressed in phrases 

 which, early in June, inevitably reappear 

 in all the journals of sport. We hear 

 of " the Mayfly Carnival " : what does 

 " Carnival " denote if not a hUarious out- 

 break of reckless indulgence ? We hear 

 also of " the duffer's fortnight " : what can 

 these words mean save that during the 

 period of the Mayfly the trout are so 

 abandoned in voracity that the need for 

 skill in luring them is for the time gone ? 

 As food for the fish the Mayflies are 

 extraordinarily stimulating. When they 

 are thoroughly " up " and fluttering thickly 

 about the surface of the stream, all the 

 trout in the water are near the surface, 

 gobbling ; even the largest fish, which at 

 ordinary times lie low unseen, shoulder 

 the youngsters out of the way and 

 scour about ravening on the delicacies 

 of the season. Any one who has 



