t7o MODERN SEA FISHING 



In the Orkneys flies are by no means a modern innovation, 

 the local fishermen finding that these large double-winged flies 

 will kill lythe and saithe when red and white rags fail. A single 

 set of wings are not found large enough to cover the medium- 

 sized cod hooks which are used for the larger fish. I must 

 confess that these very large flies are not as a rule cast from 

 a rod, but are used as whirring baits from a boat which for 

 saithe is worked on the edge of the tide, the line being somewhat 

 heavily leaded. 



Anyone who is accustomed to dress flies will see that baits 

 for lythe and saithe may be made of any materials which are 

 to be had, and wherever there is an old hearthrug, a mop- 

 head, a coloured blanket, a poultry run, or a red-haired child, 

 materials of some kind are forthcoming. I once caught some 

 trout on Daitmoor with a fly made of no better materials than 

 some white darning worsted and a quill pen, but I used it at 

 night during a spell of dry hot weather. 



For small fish a white fly does well over a dark bottom ; 

 and a greyish-brown fly, dark wing, over sand. Another good 

 fly is made with a grey-brown turkey's feather, first dipped in 

 turmeric to give it a yellowish shade ; body either red and 

 black barred, or peacock harl. 



A most killing fly, shown in the illustration, is made from 

 the tail of a dogfish, after drying. It will take when all others 

 fail, owing possibly to the peculiar glistening of the fibres in 

 the water. It can easily be made from the following direc- 

 tions : Dry the tail end of a dogfish by hanging up in the wind 

 (putting on a little salt if the weather is hot, to prevent it from 

 going bad). When the tail fin is quite dry, cut it off close 

 to the body and tear off the dry skin from each side. This will 

 leave the centre part of the fin composed of some fibrous rags 

 with possibly a little dry flesh adhering. This flesh is removed 

 by the Orkney fishermen by soaking in their mouths and 



