

THE CLARET BUMBLE 189 



This completes the list of trout-flies. I have 

 endeavoured to curtail it as much as possible. I 

 could, of course, have reduced it to some five or 

 six varieties, but this would have been considered 

 very incomplete by the majority of people. More- 

 over, I am of opinion that fishermen like to possess 

 a certain stock of flies, judging from the enormous 

 collections which some men contrive to accumu- 

 late. For my own part, I find a very slender stock 

 amply sufficient ; but then, being able to tie my 

 own flies, I can always replenish it when it is 

 exhausted. It is not so necessary to have a large 

 variety as a good stock of the best patterns. I 

 would advise the reader to learn to make his own 

 flies, even though he may prefer to purchase what 

 he requires. I am well aware that a chapter or 

 two on the art of artificial fly-making would form 

 a useful addition to the present work, but I have 

 decided not to refer to it, for the reasons assigned 

 in the next chapter. 



