INSTRUCTIONS 91 



2. The cast has two points of suspension, and 

 therefore the flies are not so readily dragged under 

 the surface by the cast and line, when the latter 

 begin to lose the power to float. The life of the 

 fly is prolonged, and a willing trout is not deterred 

 by unnatural behaviour of the fly. 



3. The cast falls more lightly and more hori- 

 zontally on the water if it carries two flies. At 

 least we imagine it does and, seeing that the hackles 

 do tend to lessen the speed of descent, it is reason- 

 able to suppose that, by doubling their number, 

 the fall will be rendered still more gradual. If 

 the surmise is correct, surely the advantage is of 

 value to anyone and especially to the beginner. 



4. In water ruffled by wind or current, it is 

 sometimes difficult to discern a fly. If two are 

 used, one may be easily seen, and then the other 

 can be picked up at once. In dry-fly fishing it is 

 most essential to watch the flies carefully. 



5. Often we have caught a trout on the tail- 

 fly, when there could be no doubt that the dropper- 

 fly had previously passed over the fish. When 

 both flies are alike in pattern, or even if they are 

 different, and the first causes no alarm, then one 

 is justified in concluding that the trout was inter- 

 ested by the first and therefore fell to the second, 

 or alternatively that it imagined a hatch had taken 

 place, and that it was time to get busy. The 

 result might be the same if we were to use a single 

 fly and cast it twice, but we would require also 

 to know of the trout's existence and be sure of 

 placing the fly on the right line. We assume, of 

 course, that there is no rise to guide the cast. 



6. In practice we find or perhaps it were better 



