ON THE FOOD OP FISH. 121 



In the great Irish lakes, as Lough Erne, Lough 

 Arrow, the Westmeath lakes, and others, the large 

 trout which iuhabit these lakes never come to the 

 surface in any number, save at the rise of the 

 may-fly. In a good fly season they rise with great 

 freedom, and wonderful takes are made ; at other 

 times they can only, save at rare intervals, be picked 

 up by spinning. Of course I am not referring to 

 the small things that get on the shallows, but to the 

 sly old fellows who scorn a midge-fly. On the 

 Thames, also, the large Thames trout are always 

 more upon the rise and on the look-out for flies 

 when the big stone-fly (which is a perfect monster 

 on the Thames), puts in an appearance in April, or 

 when the few green drakes that are found in it 

 show themselves. It is not to be supposed that 

 these large fish will take notice of anything but large 

 flies, because it would take myriads of the smaller 

 ones to make a meal for them ; and therefore it should 

 be the aim of the pisciculturist to increase, by every 

 means in his power, by the importation of larvae, &c., 

 the larger flies, if he desires to improve the fly 

 fishing in any lake or river. 



Again, I will instance the fish in Loch Leven, 

 which grow to a fine size, and are almost always in 

 superb condition. The bottom of the lake, in places. 



