234 FLY FISHING 



a broad soft band across the shoulder, in order 

 to guard against soreness and to diminish the 

 aching and oppression caused at last by a heavy 

 weight. 



Spring balances (a small one for trout and a 

 large one for salmon) ; boxes for flies (in the 

 case of dry flies one in which the flies are kept 

 loose in different compartments, and not fixed 

 with their hackles pressed upon cork) ; a soft 

 leather case for casts and gut lengths, with 

 separate pockets ; a knife with scissors, dull 

 neutral-coloured clothes, and a soft hat, in which 

 flies may be stuck when frequent changes are 

 necessary, with a brim above which a cast can be 

 wound these complete my equipment for fly 

 fishing. 



Some innate conservatism lurking in me has 

 prevented me hitherto from taking to the use 

 of paraffin for dry flies. I do not defend myself, 

 for I cannot prove that an oiled fly is less attrac- 

 tive to shy trout than a clean one ; but I do 

 not believe that except on very wet days I 

 should land any more trout by using paraffin, 

 and I know that whenever a suspicious trout 

 refused my fly I should be wondering whether 



