360 SALMON AND TROUT. 
feeding freely on the Ephemera is when the nymph is working 
its way out of the mud and swimming to the surface of the 
water for the purpose of effecting the transformation to the 
subimago. When this first occurs the fish seem afraid of an 
insect so much larger than the forms of life which have pre- 
viously formed their staple diet. After a time, attracted by the 
great quantity of these creatures, they gradually become bolder, 
and, after trying an occasional one and finding them to their 
taste, soon commence to chase the active nymphs, taking them 
eagerly, with a loud splashing noise and much movement be- 
neath the surface of the water. Before long a fish in the act 
of seizing the nymph is surprised to find it elude his grasp, and 
to see the winged insect emerge from the shuck on the surface 
of the stream and leave the empty exuvium behind. The next 
time this happens he will possibly take the subimago, and thus 
he gets his first impression of the May-fly itself. This exuvium 
must, however, be a succulent morsel, as not infrequently the 
fish will take it in preference to either the nymph or the sub- 
imago. 
If only fishermen could be persuaded to leave the trout 
alone at this stage, they would in a few days get thoroughly 
well on to the Green Drake, and feed on the floating fly with 
a sense of security. It is, however, vain to indulge in any hope 
of inducing the modern school of anglers to practise this degree 
of patience and temporary self-denial, although if they would 
only once try the experiment their sport would no doubt be so 
improved that they would have no cause to regret it. As it is, 
every proprietor or lessee of a fishery, and equally every member 
of a club or subscription water, expect the keeper to send them 
a telegram at the very first sign of a May-fly. Without a 
moment’s delay, each and every one of them must postpone 
every engagement made, whether business or social, and hurry 
down to the river-side. At once the eager angler must put up 
his favourite pattern and keep casting it over the feeding fish : 
a few—very few—he kills, some he pricks, and many more he 
makes so shy that they will not rise for another week, and thus 
