76 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
or less crude and imperfect—but the theory as ulti- 
mately elaborated, examined by the light of the theories 
of others, and worked out, tested and re-tested by my- 
self during some twenty years’ practical experience of 
fly-fishing on many of the principal rivers and lakes in 
the three kingdoms. 
With regard to Salmon-fishing the arguments ad- 
duced against a multiplicity of flies apply, and with 
even greater force, inasmuch as it is not pretended by 
any one that Salmon-flies really imitate the colour or 
form of any known insects, but are rather spontaneous 
evolvements from the internal consciousness of anglers 
and tackle makers. They are certainly more numerous 
in their endless variety of colour and pattern than even 
Trout-flies, and are proportionately more useless, except 
to those who are paid for making or selling them. The 
result of my investigations is, that there is only one 
essential in the construction both of Salmon and Grilse- 
flies, and that is brzlliancy and strength of colouring ; and 
that in proportion as they fulfil these conditions are 
their killing properties. Size is on the contrary an ele- 
ment constantly varying from local circumstances. A 
large river or lake usually demands a large fly, and vice 
versa, and this again should be larger or smaller ac- 
cording as the weather is dark or bright, windy or calm. 
These are all points requiring the exercise of judgment, 
for in their combinations they present considerable 
