Sizes of Flies. 33 



and yet it is not so large as the largest, nor so small 

 as the smallest, of those which frequent the stream. 

 In all these cases, and in others, we can scarcely 

 be credited with practically furnishing " a sufficient 

 refutation of the exact-imitation theory," when we 

 dare to have some diversity in the size of our imita- 

 tions of flies of the same species. It is quite open 

 to the " formalist," so long as he does not " o'erstep 

 the modesty of nature," to have, if he so please, his 

 green drakes or his March browns of various sizes 

 to suit various circumstances. Younger dressed 

 his March brown on a No. 6 hook, and Stoddart 

 used a No. 4, while Eonalds gives three different 

 hooks ; and yet they one and all fished with flies of 

 the " natural size." It would be quite needless, 

 however, even if it were possible, to have an imita- 

 tion of all natural-sized flies, and therefore I select, 

 as most generally suitable under all conditions, an 

 average specimen, and dress it on a No. 3 hook. 

 I am led to adopt this one because, in represent- 

 ing the largest sizes, there are produced a bulky 

 dressing and a clumsy fly, which, in alighting on 

 the water, is more apt to disturb than allure, espe- 

 cially if the river should be low and clear. On 

 a "big" heavy water the larger imitations might 

 possibly be the more deadly, but I prefer a fly 

 of a medium size, as being, all round, the most 

 advantageous. 



