FALLACY OF FREQUENT CHANGE 133 



persevered with the same fly with which he began. 

 When the night has been frosty, salmon will not 

 stir till the water has received the genial warmth 

 of the day ; and there are a thousand hidden causes 

 of obstruction which we, who are not fish, know 

 nothing about. 



As an instance, I once fished over a short stream 

 above the Webbs, in Mertoun- water, without 

 having an offer ; being convinced there were fish in 

 it, I went over it a second time with the same fly 

 immediately afterwards, and caught two salmon 

 and two gilse. Now if I had changed my fly, as 

 is usual, the success would naturally have been 

 attributed to such change. But, observe, I do not 

 mean to assert that all flies are equally successful, 

 for there must obviously be a preference, however 

 slight ; but I mean merely to say that a failure 

 oftener occurs from atmospheric variations than 

 from the colour of the fly. Yet an occasional 

 change is always advisable, particularly if you have 

 had any offers ; since the fish in so rising, having, 

 perhaps, discovered the deception, will not be 

 solicitous to renew their acquaintance with a 

 detected scamp. After all, the great thing is to 

 give the appearance and motion of a living animal. 



Once, when I was adjusting my tackle on Tweed- 

 side, I was accosted by a native fisherman in these 

 words — " Ye need na fash yersel' the day wi' yer 

 lang wand, for I wud na gie a pinch o' snuff for a' 

 that ye'll get ; there are too many pouthered lawyers 

 aboot." Powdered lawyers ! I gazed around me, 

 and did not see a single gentleman of the long robe. 

 What on earth could the man mean ? and what 



