494 SPORN-BAITS. 



specially made for the purpose, are sold for mahseer 

 and other large powerful fish. When packing hooks 

 in this form it is obvious that no pressure should be 

 allowed to come upon them, or the brazing may 

 become fractured ; this is the reason why it becomes 

 necessary to carry them in boxes. 



Carry as few artificial baits as possible. They are 

 expensive, occupy a lot of space, require special boxes 

 to carry them safely, and many of them are apt soon 

 to get out of order, while very few of them are of 

 much use. In the author's humble opinion these arti- 

 cles seldom prove satisfactory, and nine times out of 

 ten the spoon will prove by far the most killing of all 

 artificial baits. The spoon is the mainstay of the 

 traveller's fishing outfit carry plenty of them, of as- 

 sorted sizes, some of heavier material than others; 

 always carry them unmounted, and only fit them up 

 for use as required. A piece of chamois leather and 

 a little " rotten stone, " or small box of plate powder, 

 is useful to clean up tarnished spoons. 



Next as regards flies many books have been writ- 

 ten upon this one item of a fisherman's outfit, it would 

 therefore ill become the author to venture to lay down 

 the law upon a subject concerning which opinions 

 differ so much, as to the question of "What are the 

 best flies?" 



The fact is, many of the flies sold in countless va- 

 rieties in the fishing tackle shops especially the salmon 

 flies represent no known variety of the insect world. 

 The fish therefore probably mistake them for some 

 species of aquatic life, which looks as if it might be 

 good to eat. Almost every country has its own 

 special artificial flies, which are (so we are assured in 



