SALMON FLIES 11 



opposite his house, and he had tried them day 

 after day without success. At last came the day 

 of reckoning. He had fished them all the morn- 

 ing unsuccessfully, and at mid-day his daughter 

 brought him his lunch : he laid down his rod, 

 leaving the fly (a large double " Wilkinson ") hang- 

 ing in the stream. Presently, one of the salmon 

 took it. Quickly dropping his lunch he picked up 

 his rod and killed the fish. Placing the rod in 

 the same position, the incident was repeated, 

 and before he had finished his lunch, the second 

 fish was killed. 



Two years ago, a friend fishing with me on 

 the Tweed had a novel experience. After fishing 

 all the morning without success he backed his 

 boat into an eddy and took his lunch. While 

 waiting for the ghillie, he dropped his fly over 

 the side of the boat, when a fine thirty-three 

 pound salmon promptly took it, and after a good 

 run was killed. 



These incidents (which might be considerably 

 multiplied), however inexplicable they may be, 

 need not disturb us very much, as they would 

 seem to be rather " the exception which proves 

 the rule" than a rule in themselves. 



