196 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



fetching long prices in our principal markets. Since 

 yesterday the water had fallen some inches, but I had 

 little fear that where fish were so numerous and little 

 disturbed it would unfavourably affect their disposition 

 to take. Having faith in the fly I designated " the 

 drummer," I determined to experimentalise with others, 

 retaining my old friend as a last resource in case of 

 failure. I therefore selected a former favourite, known 

 by many as " the hornet/' and whose texture and shape 

 had produced good results in many localities. The fly 

 is made as follows : wings from the fine fibres of the 

 English cock pheasant's tail ; body of yellow worsted 

 or amber- coloured mohair, the mohair to be preferred ; 

 the body to be ribbed with black and made full, with 

 a large red cock's hackle, black at the roots, wrapped 

 several times under the butt of the wings. Having got 

 my rod together I commenced work, and the success 

 which had attended my efforts of the day before and 

 my choice of flies were quite equalled by this day's 

 performance. The third cast I rose a superb fish, but, 

 unfortunately, scratched him, and had the same mis- 

 fortune repeated before many minutes. However, 

 by the time I had got thirty yards down the water, 

 I struck another, whose unusual size and activity 

 evoked unlimited admiration. His first rush was truly 

 magnificent, and as soon as I succeeded in stopping 



