56 THE GRASSHOPPER, 



wise good, but only for a very short period. I 

 have frequently watched Trout taking this fly 

 most greedily, at the moment it leaves its grub 

 state, and before it has risen to the surface of 

 the water. It is to be used precisely like the 

 Grasshopper. 



Many fly-fishers must have remarked, that 

 for a fortnight at least before the May-fly 

 appears in any numbers, Trout do not rise so 

 freely as before that period. And I am satis- 

 fied, from personal observation, they are then 

 feeding on the fly, at the bottom, as it quits the 

 case in which it has passed its grub existence. 



Experience teaches — so saith the maxim. 

 But with the world in general, this is a decided 

 no7i sequitur. Vide a hundred and one in- 

 stances within the knowledge and recollection 

 of every body. Just so with anglers; some 

 will not be taught by experience, and many 

 will not give her a chance of even a single 

 lesson. 



To say that this bait, or this method of 

 baiting, is infallible, is but the rank quackery 

 of our advertising nostrum-mongers. A bait 



