g6 AN OPEN CREEL 



an average of at least a dozen of each kind ; twenty- 

 six Wickhams in one compartment, besides others 

 scattered about, give a solid basis on which to ground 

 averages. 



One would think this box enough for all occasions, 

 but there are others on the table. There is the one 

 with the big sedges and the roach-hook (since removed) 

 in it, which I have mentioned. It is of like size with 

 the first, and lined with cork. Then there is another 

 thin one, also lined with cork, which I intended for 

 seven dozen hackle flies. But by some inscrutable pro- 

 cess it now contains, besides most of the original 

 inhabitants, olive duns, Wickhams, red quills, black 

 gnats, and other odds and ends which have no business 

 there. The fourth box is a simple cardboard affair that 

 once held cigarettes. Now it contains grannoms, 

 Mr. Halford's biggest sedges (which would not go into 

 box No. 7), alders, governors, and one derelict salmon 

 fly (since removed) in a bad state of repair. The fifth 

 box is also of cardboard, and holds hackle flies which 

 would not go into box No. 3. The sixth box contains 

 more hackle flies which would not go into No. 5, and is 

 put into the bag lest I should not have enough. The 

 seventh box is of metal and flannel-lined, and it holds 

 Mr. Halford's new patterns, arranged, after great 

 labour, in orderly rows. At present I can look on them 

 with pleasure as on a piece of work well done, but I 

 tremble to think what they will seem by the end of the 

 season, and what confusion will worse confound both 

 new patterns and old when the different boxes have 

 been out a few times and their contents have got mixed 

 up in the usual manner. 



