1 8 Trouting-Flies. 



Though authors most frequently err in recom- 

 mending too many flies, it is quite possible to 

 have too few. A recent writer on angling, Mr 

 Cholmondeley-Pennell, who has entered very fully 

 into this subject, and propounded a remarkable 

 theory of his own, gives a collection of artificial 

 flies which certainly cannot be said to be either 

 too large or too varied ; for the conclusion to which 

 he comes, after much disquisition and not a little 

 speculation, is, that six flies "three for salmon 

 and grilse, and three for trout, grayling, and dace " 

 are amply sufficient for all the angler's needs. 

 Whether they may satisfy the prevailing tastes and 

 habitual cravings of the fish, is quite another ques- 

 tion, though to me it seems the chief one. 



But not only do I maintain that the selection 

 should include only such flies as the trout most 

 commonly prefer, but that the artificial imitations 

 of these flies should be as nearly as possible the 

 exact counterparts of the natural insects. It is the 

 latter position which has been most frequently and 

 most vigorously assailed. It has been attacked, too, 

 on all points, and each successive assailant having, 

 to his own satisfaction, scored a signal success and 

 fairly demolished the theory, considers himself 

 bound to set up in its place a new one of his own. 

 The result is, that the opinions of the theoretical 

 anglers who write on this question bid fair to equal 



