126 SALMON-FISHING. 



hackle later. This seems to have resulted from 

 Trout-fishing, as the Blue Dun or Cockwing 

 is an early and most admirable fly for Trout or 

 Grayling ; and though varieties of it are found 

 all the season, and are among the best, yet, as 

 the season advances, yellow and orange make 

 their appearance, and are received witli much 

 cordiality by their scaly devourers. 



But in Salmon-fishing, the flies, soi-disant, 

 made and used are not more arbitrary than 

 assigning one colour to the spring, and others 

 to the summer and autumn. 



In some rivers — such as several of the Irish, 

 for instance, where the water is always turhery, 

 always discoloured — a gaudy fly is no doubt 

 preferable, as being more easily detected by 

 the fish. But, even in such waters, to vary 

 the colour according to the season is ridiculous ; 

 for, with very rare exceptions, it is tolerably 

 certain that Salmon do not rise at the natural 

 fly. I speak not of old fish, — the fellows that 

 have spawned, and appear in their dotage, — 

 for they will take any thing ; but what sports- 

 man will take them? The good, honest 



