74 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



ordinary flies for sea fishing may be obtained at most 

 fishing tackle shops, and are generally dressed on Limerick 

 hooks of various sizes. The wings are composed of white 

 goose feathers, or white and red feathers with bodies of 

 white or red wool ; but many other variations may be made 

 on these with advantage. Any half-worn grilse, sea trout, 

 or salmon fly may be used, but the fly which I found the 

 most killing was one which I had dressed to my own 

 pattern. It is dressed with rather large wings of goose 

 feathers, dyed the brightest possible yellow, and the body 

 is made of scarlet wool wrapped round with a little 

 bit of gold tinsel. It is a very showy fly, and after trying 

 it in all sorts of weather, as tail, middle, and bob fly, 

 I can, without boasting, say that in whatever position 

 it was placed, it was taken in preference to any other of 

 the established pattern flies, by three fish out of every four 

 that I caught. So great a success was it that at the 

 request of many anglers in the Island I gave the pattern 

 to Miss Linton, Market Place, Ramsey ; I have also 

 given it to Mr. Mitchell, of Market Street, Manchester, 

 from either of whom the flies may be obtained. For 

 anglers who dress their own flies, I would simply say that 

 these flies, and, in fact, all sea flies, should be dressed on 

 salmon gut. The trace for sea fly-fishing should be about 

 seven feet of strong salmon gut. If you are likely to have 

 much casting it is better only to use two flies, and it is an 

 advantage to place a moderately large split shot at the 

 head of your tail fly in order to sink it a little, as few 

 sea fish are taken quite on the surface of the water. If, 

 however, you are " whifiing," or trailing your flies, you 



