252 RIVER SHANNON FLIES. 



weirs. In fine late spring, summer, and early 

 autumn weather, salmon rise best of mornings 

 and evenings; before 10 o'clock A.M., and after 

 5 o'clock P.M. In early spring-tide, I consider 

 the best hours for salmon-fishing are those between 

 10 A.M., and 4 P.M. It is complete loss of time 

 to fly-fish for salmon in the middle of the day, 

 when the water is low and clear, and the sun 

 shining out cloudlessly. When the mercury in 

 the barometer is falling, fish never rise ; when it 

 is rising salmon rise, no matter from what point 

 the wind blows. 



No. 1. Body, half light orange, half blue silk, 

 to be ribbed with broad silver tinsel and gold 

 twist; a lightish blue hackle, stripped on one 

 side, over the body; blue jay under shoulder; 

 head, seal's fur dyed yellow; tag, orange silk; 

 above it another tag of fur of deeper orange hue ; 

 tail, large topping ; wings, ten or twelve largest 

 sized toppings, sprigs of the leading tail feathers 

 of the golden pheasant, and four long feelers of 

 blue and yellow macaw. This is a standard spring 

 Shannon fly. It should be dressed on a No. 3 or 

 4 Phillips's hook, with shank lengthened to the 

 dimension of a No. 1 or 2. We are all now 



