44 MAY. 



quently the Fly uncertain. I never knew this 

 month so fine, that it authorized, immediately 

 on its appearance, the discarding every April 

 insect ; unless towards evening, when I would use 

 the Coachman, and most frequently with suc- 

 cess. The Governor is also excellent until the 

 May Fly rises ; the Black Gnat is good in the 

 middle of the day, but in the evening, the 

 Coachman before all others. The above are, in 

 my opinion, all that are necessary in this month, 

 with the exception of the May Fly, and that 

 must be most admirably made before you can 

 hope for success. Half a dozen Flies are better 

 than a thousand. But then it is so pleasant to 

 look over one^s hooks, to tie them afresh, and 

 then to fancy a Fly for the next day ; the liking 

 most probably confined entirely to ourselves. 

 It is a foolish fastidiousness ; and we frequently 

 think (even after the most acute observations) 

 that our selection is bad, because the fish do not 

 rise at it as rapidly as we could wish. The fact 

 is, the very slightest variation of temperature is 



