236 SALMON FLIES. 



themselves to certain colours in the fly be regulated or 

 explained ? 



From this dark, insoluble and thoroughly speculative 

 subject, it is high time to retire. My apology for in- 

 troducing it at all, rests on the desire I have to discover 

 to those who make of it a matter of argument, the ab- 

 surdities they are liable to run into. There is, I cannot 

 help thinking, a great deal of prejudice, self-conceit, and 

 humbug exhibited by salmon-fishers generally, with 

 respect to their flies a monstrous mass of nonsense 

 hoarded up by the best of them, and opinions held, quite 

 at variance with reason and common sense. I will not 

 go so far as to assert, in relation to salmon-flies, that it 

 would be expedient greatly to reduce their number or 

 establish, as I have recommend to be done in regard to 

 trouting-hooks, any limit to their variety. An innova- 

 tion of this sort, if proposed, would, I well know, be 

 treated with ridicule. Still, I have reason to believe 

 that the salmon is not quite so finical a fish, as many 

 anglers represent it to be that the fastidiousness is 

 more on their part, and that, through carrying it on 

 occasions to an extreme length, they frequently accom- 

 plish the very thing they are desirous of avoiding, that 

 is, they alarm instead of alluring the fish. This is ex- 

 emplified very often on the raising of a grilse or salmon 

 with a particular fly. A great many anglers with whom 

 I am acquainted make it a practice never immediately to 

 cast over the same fish, with the same hook, but having 

 started and missed their game, at once to substitute 

 another size and description of fly. Now this I hold is 

 all well enough, when a second offer of the lure, due 

 time being granted, has been made and refused ; but to 

 present to the eye of the fish, after a few moments 

 occupied in making the change, a hook of different, 

 perhaps opposite colours, must now and then inevitably 



