TROUT-FLIES. IO3 



with the "blow-line;" and the place to see blow-line 

 fishing is in the Lakes of Westmeath. Indeed, this 

 beautiful chain of waters seems to be the natural habitat 

 of the art. Each lake in its turn, as the fly appears on 

 it, becomes for a few days a centre of attraction to the 

 angling community, and many a boat which, as Pat 

 says, is only safe provided you do not " cough or snaze," 

 is then dragged from her moorings — perhaps at the 

 bottom of the lake — and pressed into the service. The 

 art of blow-line fishing, though in its principles exceed- 

 ingly simple, demands much nicety of execution in 

 practice, and, as indeed its name implies, it cannot 

 be pursued at all without the assistance of that 

 most inconstant element, the wind. Weather, how- 

 ever, proving propitious, the tackle is easily adjusted. 

 A skein of floss silk prepared for the purpose, and 

 attached to the end of a light running-line, is sub- 

 stituted, so far as the actual casting is concerned, for 

 the " reel-line," and to this, instead of the ordinary fly- 

 collar, is fastened a single small hook whipped on a 

 strand of fine gut. The hook is baited with a May- 

 fly, and as the boat drifts the wind carries out the 

 floss silk, which ought to be so managed by the aid of 

 hand and rod that only the hook and fly should actually 

 touch the water. Near the edges of the reeds will 

 usually be found the greatest quantity of EphemeridcBy 

 and as a corollary the greatest number of Trout. The 

 exact time for this fishing varies a little, as the spring 



