SALMON FLIES. 495 



the fishing tackle shops) the only reliable ones for use 

 in their waters. It may be so, and in that case the 

 angler will do well to try a selection of a few of the 

 most highly recommended. In some countries fish do 

 not take a fly well; that is so in British Columbia 

 for instance. The author has tried many kinds of fly 

 there, but discarded them all for natural bait ; but since 

 the invention of the " spoon bait " it has superseded 

 almost everything else. For both salmon, sea and 

 river trout, the author has however found a large self- 

 coloured saffron yellow fly the most generally useful. 

 He used to carry them in assorted sizes for the various 

 sorts of fishing, and has found them do well all over 

 America, and in Norway, Sweden, Russia, and other 

 places. Another good one is like a large black gnat. 



For trout, the brilliantly coloured smaller sizes of 

 salmon flies, and white trout flies, all proved useful at 

 times, also some of the standard varieties of English 

 trout flies. For salmon, " Butcher, " " Britannia, " 

 "Jock Scott," "Silver," and "Black Doctor," all 

 proved serviceable ; also some of the gaudy flies used 

 upon the Irish salmon rivers. But on the whole, as 

 a traveller, we could not say that the fly has given 

 satisfaction at all times very much the reverse. 



Gut, wire and gimp also require to be carried; but 

 gut is apt to become dry, brittle, and rotten by long 

 keeping, especially in hot climates. Therefore it is very 

 much more important in these cases to have it tho- 

 roughly soaked before use, either for single or twisted 

 gut. The best salmon gut is however very expensive. 

 Mr. Thomas however makes a valuable suggestion as 

 regards an efficient substitute, as we shall see further on. 



Gut traces intended for the use of travellers require 



