ON RIVERS 69 



is on that subject dumb. In fishing for trout 

 we see insects and the trout rising at them, and 

 thus, by a simple process of thought, know what 

 artificial trout flies should be made of; but in re- 

 lation to the salmon we have no such guidance. 

 We do not see any fly at which the salmon habitually 

 rises. " He likes something to snap at," we say ; 

 "it is probable that the more luscious the offering 

 seems the more it will be approved ; let us, therefore, 

 blend colours appetisingly." That argument, or 

 something like it, is the genesis of every fly that has 

 been cast upon a salmon river. The argument indi- 

 cates why salmon flies are much more various than 

 trout flies. As Nature shows us nothing to copy, the 

 scope for speculation and invention is practically 

 unlimited. Fishermen have been for ages, and still 

 are, devising new combinations of tinsel and feathers 

 and fur. The whole of this volume would not give 

 space enough for pictures of all the flies with which 

 salmon have been tempted. 



How, then, it may be asked, is the selection now 

 presented to be justified ? 



It is to be justified by the fact that really, after 

 all, we do know a good deal about the salmon's 

 taste as regards flies. How the knowledge has 

 been gleaned may best be illustrated by an incident. 

 Two men, one of whom was Mr. Watson Lyall, who 

 told me the happenings, were fishing on a river 

 from the same boat. By lunch -time one rod had 

 caught seven salmon, and Mr. Lyall had caught 

 none. All the fish had been taken on a Dusty 



