THE SALMON. 193 



offices of all" were a "consummation devoutly to be wished." Possibly, 

 thus urged and stimulated, Mr. Pennell set about the task in regard to 

 both salmon and trout, with what success I am not now going to inquire. 

 That the reader should have an opportunity of trying the three typical 

 flies he gives as sufficient for salmon, I will give details of their dressing. 

 As he is confident his system is right, and anxious to proselytise, I am 

 sure he will allow me to add to my already great indebtedness by quoting 

 the particulars referred to. He terms his flies the silver, gold, and 

 rainbow, and this is the formulary: 



Silver. Tip, a single twist of the embossed plate used in the body ; 

 tail (1), tuft of jay's wing or any bright blue feather ; (2) golden pheasant 

 topping ; butt, a twist of bright orangey yellow pig's wool; body, embossed 

 silver plate ; shoulder hackle, light blue hackle ; wing (1), golden phea- 

 sant topping ; (2) two feathers of jungle cock ; (3) four long fibres from 

 red macaw wing; head hackle (1), light orange hackle; (2) orange hackle. 

 Gold. Tip, same as before; tail (1), tuft of small cock of the rock 

 feathers ; (2) golden pheasant topping ; butt, a twist of bright crimson 

 pig's wool; body, embossed gold plate; shoulder hackle, dark orange 

 hackle; wing, same as " silver;" head hackle (1) blue hackle ; (2) red 

 orange hackle. 



Rainbow. Tip, same as above; tail (1), tuft of any light green feather ; 

 (2) golden pheasant topping; butt, bright yellow pig's wool forming part 

 of body; body (pig's wool): (1) bright golden yellow ; (2) red; (3) 

 claret mixed with indigo towards shoulder ; hackle at shoulder, light 

 blue hackle ; wing, same as before ; head hackle : (1) orange hackle ; 

 (2) red hackle. The silver is sometimes observed on a double hook like 

 the pike fly. This seems to be a good and certain method of securing 

 the fish, but obviously it necessitates more force in striking, and therefore 

 I think may be very readily dispensed with. 



The merit, apart from his theory, which Mr. Pennell claims for these 

 flies is that the colours are strong, glowing, and harmonious. 



Very prettily he says, " As the harmonies of sound depend upon the 

 combination of certain natural ' intervals ' furnished by the harmonic 

 chord, so, in forming harmonies of colour, the natural or prismatic 

 arrangement as displayed by the solar spectrum of the optician must, in 

 every case, be taken as a basis." On this principle are his flies as nearly 

 as possible constructed, and certainly, so far as appearance goes, they 

 are capital pieces of the colourist-flymaker's ingenuity. 



The flies should be attached by a knot which will be shown, and only 

 one, in my opinion the stretcher can, with anything like precision, be 

 used. If there be sea trout about, however, a dropper suitable for them 

 may be tied on, but in the event of two fish being hooked at once, as 







