The May -Fly. 139 



water is a desideratum at all times for a floating fly 

 either up or down stream. 



But the May-fly, as I have said, can be used 

 under water as well as on the surface, and for this 

 the ordinary fly-fishing rod will suit well enough. 

 The line, however, including two yards of fine gut 

 at the extremity, must not be more than a length 

 and a half of the rod. The tackle consists either 

 of one large hook or of two smaller ones. The 

 larger hook is a No. 10, to the shank of which two 

 bristles of horse-hair are lashed to prevent the flies 

 from slipping down, and so destroying their appear- 

 ance. Place two insects on the hook, in each case 

 inserting the point at the head, and bringing it out 

 at the tail. When a trout takes the flies on this 

 tackle, the angler should allow it to run for a short 

 distance before striking ; and when he does strike, 

 it should be gently and firmly down-stream. 



In the second case, two No. 7 hooks, with short 

 shanks, are placed back to back, the one fully a 

 quarter of an inch above the other. A fly is im- 

 paled on each hook, the point being inserted at the 

 head, the body threaded on the shank, and the 

 point brought out at the tail. Prompt striking is 

 necessary here, but in no case must it be too hard. 

 I use both kinds of tackle ; when the fish are 

 taking freely, the single hook, I find, answers per- 

 fectly well ; but when trout are shy, their advances 



