78 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN RIVER ANGLING. 



the lasso of a South American peon, who gallops for- 

 wards, dragging his victim after him, which is killed 

 by strangulation in a very short time. When fishes 

 are hooked foul, that is on the outside of the body, as 

 in the fins or tail, they will often fight for many hours, 

 and in such cases are seldom caught, as they retain 

 their powers of breathing unimpaired ; and if they do 

 not exhaust themselves by violent muscular efforts, 

 they may bid defiance to the temper and the skill of 

 the fisherman." 



Seasons for Fly-fishing, with their peculiar Flies. 



The changes of colour caused in rivers by rains and 

 flood, render a change in the mo'des of angling indis- 

 pensable. During a flood the water is too thick for the 

 fly to be seen ; but when the water becomes of a clear 

 brown it is the best for the fly. When the water and 

 weather are clear, small flies are to be used ; and larger 

 ones early in the morning and evening, or when the 

 water is dark and the weather cloudy or windy, so as 

 to curl the water. 



As experienced routine anglers are very particular 

 in selecting flies for particular months-, I think it will 

 be convenient to mention a few of these, though the 

 principles which I have above laid down will show 

 that much of what is supposed to be attractive, or, as 

 it is termed, killing, in those particular flies, is alto- 

 gether imaginary. 



Flies for February. 

 This month is rather early for fly-fishing ; yet some 



