142 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



flies are made by nature, so no distinction of species 

 need be observed. My rule has been to adapt my fly, 

 both as to colour and size, to the state of the water : a 

 large fly with sober colours for deep and clear water; 

 and a smaller one, equally unassuming, where it is 

 shallower ; in the throat of the cast, and as long as it 

 continues rough, a large fly also ; at the tail of it, where 

 the water runs more quietly and evenly, a smaller one 

 serves the purpose best. Thus you should change your 

 fly in every stream once or twice. A large and rather 

 gaudy fly is preferable when the river is full and dis- 

 coloured, that the salmon, which lie at great depths, 

 may see it ; but I never had any great success with 

 very gaudy flies, either in the Tweed or elsewhere, in 

 clear and low waters. Salmon will rise at them, it is 

 true ; but those that have been long in the water will 

 not take them freely when the river is in the state I 

 have spoken of, though they excite their curiosity, and 

 serve them for playthings. I believe it is the fashion 

 now to think otherwise ; so that in these days a golden 

 pheasant's feathers are in as high estimation in Scot- 

 land as they always have been in Ireland. 



In tying your flies, you may have some regard to the 

 harmonic colours, as less startling and more natural. 

 You may laugh, if you please, but I would fain think 

 there is something in this. If you know them not, 

 consult Sir David Brewster's table of spectral colours 

 in his distinguished " Philosophical Magazine." 



I have said that there is no animal in nature re- 

 sembling our salmon flies ; but I once caught a fish 

 who was certainly persuaded that he was attacking an 



