4 SALMON FISHING 



fly," when in reality such a thing does not exist ? 

 In any case, it seems odd to think that we are 

 to accept for all time that which our forefathers 

 invented and called a "fly," as the ultimate. 

 Surely, so long as man is confined to what he 

 can artificially produce, as distinct from natural 

 baits, he is sufficiently handicapped in his efforts 

 to capture fish on any river. All good sports- 

 men join in admiration of those who, on principle, 

 confine themselves to fishing "fly" some even 

 to the use of a single hook ; rightly or wrongly, 

 who shall say? All are entitled to respect 

 for the opinions they hold, and the writer, 

 while endeavouring to lay before the reader what 

 he believes to be correct, has no intention to 

 offend in any way the feelings of those, who may 

 differ from him on the point. The true sporting 

 instinct of the man who gives his quarry every 

 fair means of defence and escape, is freely acknow- 

 ledged by all. 



Why do salmon take a fly ? This is a question 

 often asked. Scientists tell us that "salmon do 

 not feed in fresh water" a statement, however, 

 which cannot be accepted by most anglers. This 

 is not a scientific treatise on the subject, but 

 one may fairly ask scientists, when one sees 

 salmon caught with worm, prawn, or minnow 

 (which they often take into their gullets as a 

 trout will do), what the salmon are doing with 



