18 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
stage, preferring as they pass up the shallow 
streams the abundant fresh-water crayfish. 
At this stage of their growth troutlings are 
exceedingly interesting ; and probably every angler 
has watched them in early summer, when myriads. 
of black gnats revolve just over the water, gam- 
bolling in the most frolicsome fashion, At the 
end of two seasons the young trout have increased 
to six or eight inches, and at this stage the angler 
first becomes acquainted with them. Like smelt, 
they are exceedingly troublesome. The progres- 
sion from troutlet to trout may be said to take 
place from the second spring to the end of 
summer. The fish, which has now attained to 
half-a-pound in weight, feeds on the various. 
members of the Ephemere, grows rapidly, and 
shakes off its enemies. And now having followed 
the troutlet from egg to fuller life, we must go 
back fora moment to the fish that produced it. 
When trout are spawning but little food is taken, 
and that from the bottom. As the fish leave the 
‘‘redds” they are lean and lank, more nearly 
resembling a pike than a trout. In an ordinary 
season the fish are all off the redds by December. 
It is not until March that trout leave their 
dark retreats and begin to feed on the surface 
flies that the first fine days find upon the stream. 
If the season is open food is abundant, though 
