78 THE SCIENCE OF DRY FLY FISHING. 



THE SENSES OF TROUT. 



I think it may be accepted as a fact that fish can 

 distinguish the flavour of different kinds of food, but, as far 

 as I am aware, it has not been decided whether their 

 olfactory organs are affected, or whether they possess a sense 

 of taste only. The use of paraffin may cause a more rapid 

 rejection of the artificial fly by the trout, but whether it 

 might not be advisable to apply an odour to the body or 

 heckle of a fly similar to that of the real fly remains to be 

 proved. Fishermen have claimed that certain flavours are 

 beloved of trout, but the result of personal experiment in 

 the application of such flavours to the body of a fly, is a 

 branch of fly fishing still very much open to original discovery. 

 I have experimented with various essences, and have found 

 a very decided success in mixing a few drops of the Oil of 

 Aniseed with my paraffin oil. I hope that this suggestion 

 may be of some use to my readers, and induce them to 

 continue such experiment, until some perfect mixture has 

 been discovered. 



Trout are undoubtedly sensible to colour distinctions, 

 and, as far as my own experience is concerned, I am confident 

 that they can detect the most subtle differences in the shade 

 and tint of the different parts of the various water insects 

 on which they feed. 



I do not consider that trout can appreciate sound as 

 we know it ; rather are they gifted with a fine sense of all 



