THE "HORNET" FLY. 315 



the noonday rest. The rocks in the estuary appeared 

 a perfect nursery of these curious animals, and, from 

 their numbers and well-known destructive habits, im- 

 mense quantities of salmon must be annually destroyed 

 to satisfy their fastidious and insatiable appetites. I 

 have since found out that the habitants (persons of 

 French extraction) frequently pay visits to this locale 

 for the capture of these valuable amphibia, their oil 

 and skins fetching long prices in our principal markets. 

 Since yesterday the water had fallen some inches, but 

 I had little fear that where fish were so numerous and 

 little disturbed it would unfavourably affect their dis- 

 position to take. Having faith in the fly I designated 

 " the drummer," I determined to experimentalize 

 with others, retaining my old friend as a last resource 

 in case of failure. I therefore selected a former 

 favourite, known by many as " the hornet," and whose 

 texture and shape had produced good results in many 

 localities. The fly is made as follows : wings from the 

 fine fibres of the English cock pheasant's tail ; body of 

 yellow worsted or amber-coloured mohair, the mohair 

 to be preferred ; the body to be ribbed with black and 

 made full, with a large red cock's hackle, black at the 

 roots, wrapped several times under the butt of the 

 wings. Having got my rod together, I commenced 

 work, and the success which had attended my efforts 

 of the day before and my choice of flies were quite 

 equalled by this day's performance. The third cast I 

 rose a superb fish, but, unfortunately, scratched him, 

 and had the same misfortune repeated before many 

 minutes. However, by the time I had got thirty yards 

 down the water, I struck another, whose unusual size 

 and activity evoked unlimited admiration. His first 



