128 SALMON-FISHING. 



liquid, seems to place an insuperable barrier in 

 the discoverer's path. It is just possible, that 

 a chemical analysis of this liquid might furnish 

 some hint for our guidance — give some clue to 

 a knowledge of their epicurean fancies. 



One of the received rules for Salmon fly- 

 fishing may, perhaps, hold good ; — namely, 

 that a small and sad-coloured fly is to be pre- 

 ferred in a bright and shallow water ; a large 

 and gaudy one in discoloured, or very deep 

 rapid water, or in a blustering day. The 

 Salmon, like the Grayling, lies at the bottom, 

 even when prepared to rise; in stormy weather, 

 therefore, or in discoloured water, he cannot 

 see a small, dull, unobtrusive fly. In such 

 cases, large and gaudy is your only chance. 



With the exception of the large Moth and 

 Butterfly tribes, I consider the great perfection 

 of a Salmon fly to consist in its life-like motion. 

 I mean, that in moving it through the stream, 

 by short jerks, the wings shall very visibly 

 collapse, and suddenly resume the position they 

 present to the eye when out of water, and dry. 

 This double motion of the wings looks more 

 like life than any mere movement of the whole 



