128 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



glers to fish the surface with a crawfish, hell- 

 grammite, or even frogs. Nevertheless, if fish can 

 be persuaded to run up to the surface where you 

 are able to see them grab it, that is a condition very 

 desirable indeed; far superior to bottom fishing. 

 Aside from that, it is a very comforting thing 

 that you have no fear or worry about snags to lose 

 bait, leader, and a piece of good line. It is no dis- 

 advantage that a bait is made to float; quite the 

 contrary. I could make lures considerably easier 

 and cheaper of heavier- than- water material. In 

 fact, they could then be made by machinery to 

 retail with a profit at a '* quarter each." But 

 that would be no improvement over the present 

 output sold in the shops, except that they could 

 very easily be made more lifelike and artistic than 

 they are now. 



Nobody, so far as I am aware, has yet attempted 

 to make trout flies by machinery; a most detestable 

 thought anyway. They require hand-work com- 

 bined with brain-work, which is art handicraft, 

 a distinction so superior in results as to preclude 

 comparison. Nobody, I am well sure, can make 

 these nature lures by machinery; like flies, hand- 

 work is the only way to do it. Three important 

 things are required not hitherto done, which I am 



