THE MAY-FLY. 89 



more substantial nature, yet not unwilling, during the 

 month we speak of, to gratify their epicurism upon such 

 tiny and delicate morsels as, partaking of this cha- 

 racter, are borne towards them by the current. 



The sizes of hook adapted for fly-fishing throughout 

 May are, in general, smaller than those used in April. 

 They vary, of course, in different waters. On Tweed 

 and Teviot, I have found Nos. 2 & 3 answer well, 

 while on other streams less, or it might be larger sizes, 

 proved more successful. 



There is one rule respecting the artificial fly the 

 angler ought always to hold in regard. It is applicable 

 to every season and to all waters, and is simply this. 

 Never use small hooks, when larger ones serve the pur- 

 pose and prove equally enticing. It is plain that a 

 small wire can never have the same hold on a fish that 

 one of greater size has. The latter, being proportion- 

 ably thicker, is less apt in playing the trout to cut 

 through the fleshy or gristly part of the mouth; its 

 barb also enters deeper and is not easily detached or 

 thrown out by any sudden spring or exertion. 



As to the imitations of what is termed the May-fly 

 a fly, by the bye, which, like the March-brown, makes 

 its appearance on our Scottish waters fully a month 

 later than is indicated by its appellation I never 

 reckoned them very deadly. They look well enough 

 cased up among other fancies and curiosities in one's 

 pocket-book, but it is seldom that an experienced angler 

 will put them to the test, knowing, as he does, that their 

 chief virtue lies more in the name than in anything else, 

 and that, with all their acknowledged resemblance to 

 the natural fly, in reality, as a river lure, they are com- 

 paratively speaking worthless and inefficient, attractive 



