FISHING RODS AND FLIES. 17 



tion with a couple of turns of silver tinsel, black hackle 

 from domestic fowl for shoulder, with the wing composed 

 of the feather either from tail or wing of the water-hen. 

 The angler had better be provided with various sizes of 

 these, as rivers are not always in the same condition, and 

 weather is variable For me to say that other flies will not 

 kill better on some rivers, or at least equally well, would 

 be absurd, but those described I have found most 

 generally useful. A handsome and frequently very killing 

 fly at times, particularly in blustering weather, is made of 

 the following material. Body of two of the longest and 

 most rufous strands of a feather from a brown turkey ; 

 these strands to have the fingers pulled up them, so as to 

 cause the fine edges to stand out before being wrapped on. 

 Shoulder of brown cock's hackle, with brown grouse 

 feather for wing. In autumn, particularly if the stream 

 should be clearing after a flood, I have known this fly to 

 be most effective. However, it is no bad plan, if you are 

 a stranger in a neighbourhood, to get hold of an honest 

 disciple of Izaak Walton, who will give you information, 

 and if he be poor very probably sell you some of the 

 contents of his book. Except for sea-trout fishing, the 

 brilliant and many-coloured macaw-like compositions are 

 generally useless in American inland streams, so let not love 

 of gaudy colouring or the advice of inexperienced persons 

 induce you to spend your time and money on such 

 fabrications. 



We will suppose the novice accoutred with all that 

 money and judgment can obtain in the shape of tackle 

 and rod at the same time hoping that his garments are 



2 



