ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



THE cottage holmster tanned and trained pockets his fish- 

 ing book, no other book he wants, and wends his way with 

 rod and pannier to his accustomed streams. His intuitive 

 glance quickly catches the prevailing fly, when his ready 

 hand as quickly creates the mimic favorite that sends him 

 ladened home. 



The purpose of this book is to bring the natural flies 

 before the eyes of the flyfisher, for the art of imitation is 

 in much better perfection than the knowledge of the natural 

 flies, and it is essential that both should be known alike. 

 A lesson or two on the art from the profession or skilful 

 craft, is much shorter and surer than book instructions. 

 The following observations may furnish some necessary and 

 useful hints. 



The weather affects the stomachs of fish, and greatly 

 varies their appetites. During pending rains and easterly 

 winds they are dull and abstemious, when few are taken 

 by the flyfisher. When the atmosphere is genial the trout, 

 under cover of thick waters, dark nights and cloudy breezy 

 days, or in the absence of top food, is often as voracious 

 as the pike he scours the streams and margins of rivers 

 in search of substantial bottom food, when he will chase 

 minnows until they fly out of the water, and runs at any 

 sizeable living thing that comes in his way. His dart and 

 his grab is like the cat with the mouse, when his prey 

 rarely escapes, or him the baited hook ; although daring, 



