94 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
portion of the United Kingdom, the best sizes of hooks 
are Nos. 2, 3, or 4, (vide plate), a larger or smaller size 
being used as the day is more or less dark or windy, or 
the water high or low. In the Derbyshire streams, No. 
I or 2 will generally be found the best sizes. Smaller 
hooks are sold in the tackle shops, but I have not in- 
cluded them in my patterns because I regard them as 
practically useless, No. 1 being small enough for every 
purpose usually required. 
COLOUR. 
In small rivers and streams I recommend the use 
of the “ green,” as the tail-fly, or stretcher; and the 
“brown,” as the bob-fly, or dropper to begin with, both 
of course dressed small to suit the size of the water: 
if either fly does not appear to kill, substitute the 
yellow as the dropper, and the best of the others for 
the stretcher ; in larger waters the same flies of a larger 
size. 
In deep lagoon-like reaches of river water, with a 
breeze on them, and especially in Scotland or Ireland, I 
recommend commencing with the “yellow” as the 
dropper, and the “ green” as the stretcher. If either of 
these flies does not kill substitute the “ brown.” 
Local Anglers will probably, and that almost without 
an exception, tell the fly-fisher that no flies but local 
ones are of any use on their lakes or streams, but this 
opinion is usually based on a very slender experience, 
