328 SALMON AND TROUT. 
days when they are likely to take freely. To the first part of 
the question it is easy to return a general answer ; subject, 
however, to frequent exceptions, due to what seems like pure 
caprice or ‘cussedness’ on the part of the fish. As arule, from 
the beginning of April to the close of the season the surest 
hours for sport are those from nine to twelve, In spring, 
however, the fish often continue rising freely far into the after- 
noon , whereas in summer, unless strong wind or heavy showers 
come to freshen them up, they mostly go off the feed between 
one and two, coming on again after a longer or shorter interval, 
and rising boldly from an hour before sunset to an hour after— 
as long in fact as you can see to throw. This, however, is only 
in warm weather ; if a dry cold wind comes up late in the after- 
noon your evening cast will disappoint you. Yet this only 
holds good as far as the Border ; in the northern counties of 
Scotland trout are almost invariably astir on a good ford 
towards dusk in July and August. 
Looking far south again, I may remark that in Devonshire 
during the spring months something may always be done 
between 2.30 and 4 P.M. 
So much for the ‘happy hours.’ I have still to inquire 
what constitutes a good fly-fishing day ; and my attempt at 
an answer must Involve a sweeping confession of ignorance. 
Most anglers indeed will agree in praising a day of chequered 
cloud and sunshine, with a strong yet soft breeze from the west 
or south-west ; and there is no doubt that on such a day good 
sport is generally attainable and the fly fisher’s craft is plied 
under the pleasantest conditions. Yet on shy waters I think I 
have made my heaviest baskets in a stiff nor’-wester with a 
dark sky and frequent bursts of heavy rain. The fish are 
- thrown more completely off their guard and take the fly with- 
out misgiving as a battered and half-drowned insect. Larger 
flies, too, and stronger gut may be safely used. 
Yet this only brings us to a conclusion which might have 
been taken for granted @ priori; viz. that roughened waters 
and dimmer light make it more easy to deceive the fish. But 
