THE STIXCHAR. 349 



Sol way, into which these rivers debouch, I need not tell 

 you that the Scotch shore fairly bristles with nets ; it is a 

 marvel fish get through and up at all. 



4 There are other streams in Ayrshire and up the West 

 coast, which have their peculiar flies; but were you to 

 notice all the rivers, your book would swell to two or 

 three volumes on salmon alone, which I presume is not 

 your intention. 



4 HERBERT E. MAXWE&L.' 



Mr. Maxwell very kindly subsequently sent me the 

 following : 



' Add to the Minnick flies for a low bright water the 

 following, known as the " Dusty Miller." 



4 Tag, silver tinsel, dark olive floss ; tail, one topping ; 

 but, black ostrich ; body, embossed silver tinsel, gold 

 thread ; dark olive hackle, gallina at shoulder ; wing, gold 

 pheasant tail, mallard, teal, green parrot and lavender 

 swan; jungle-cock at cheek; head black. Hook 9 to 11.' 

 Subsequently this has become a capital general fly. 



THE AYRSHIRE STINCHAR 



Is a fine water; if the nets were off, I doubt not it 

 would be the best in the West. The nets are, I believe, 

 to be regulated in future by the proprietor, Lord Stair, a 

 keen fisher. I have never fished it, but he told me the 

 other day he had four fish weighing 76 Ib. Large Dee flies 

 are used there, and a curious dun turkey, with a second 

 pair of wings half way down the body. 1 



Mr. J. Dalrymple Hay also sent me patterns and de- 



1 The plan is common on the Tay, and is employed when very long 

 hooks are used, and when the fly-dresser has not any feathers by him long 

 enough in the fibre to make the wing. He then takes two short fibres, and 

 by allowing one to overlap the other the requisite effect is produced. 



