TROUT-FLIES. 95 
limited most likely to that gained on some half a dozen 
lakes or rivers in their own neighbourhood. 
Local prejudices are, however, by no means confined 
to professional fishermen. Even first-rate amateur per- 
formers are often imbued with the notion that no flies 
but those they have been accustomed to consider the 
correct thing on particular rivers and streams will kill in 
them. I remember once fishing the most famous 
Trouting loch in Scotland, in company with two of her 
most celebrated (and justly celebrated) anglers, and when 
I showed them the flies I meant to use, they assured me 
that they “ would never kill fish in Loch Leven!” At the 
end of the first day, however, my basket, which included 
seven Trout weighing 14lbs., was found to be heavier than 
both theirs. This result I attribute of course solely to 
the flies, not, be it well understood, to the fisherman. 
I will not go so far as to say that there may not be 
exceptional occasions—or even exceptional rivers, though 
that I should much doubt—on which some local pattern 
of fly may not prove more killing than the three typical 
flies I recommend ; but I am quite satisfied that taking 
the average of waters and weathers, and the great saving 
of time in the avoidance of experimental changings of 
flies, my patterns—which have been tested frequently 
against the best local flies on half the principal Trouting 
waters in the British Islands—will kill more fish in the 
course of the year than any others at present generally 
known. 
