THE RISE 59 



of his food of the moment. The colour of 

 the pests may be imitated, but no ingenuity 

 of man can fashion an artificial so that it will 

 resemble in size the minute form of the natural; 

 and, even if ingenuity could do it, the hook to 

 be used in conformity would be absolutely use- 

 less and probably quite as difficult to make as 

 the fly. Lacking a correct imitation of the 

 "curses," which, even if good, might not be 

 taken, one may accept the rebuffs offered to 

 his fly with an equanimity born of the knowl- 

 edge that he is not alone in his trouble. 



If smutting fish are to be taken at all they 

 will probably be taken on a fly that has no re- 

 semblance to any particular insect except, per- 

 haps, one that is indigenous to the stream, or 

 one in which the angler has faith. It may as- 

 sume any form, flat-winged or erect. Colour, 

 of course, is not important, except that it should 

 not be too brilliant; a fly of sombre hue, such 

 as the Whirling Dun, Cahill, or Evening Dun, 

 being very effective, the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear 

 or Wickham's Fancy frequently being accepted. 

 I am inclined to think that a small fly receives 

 no more attention than a large one, if as much; 

 but nothing larger than a No. 12 or No. 14 hook 

 should be used. 



