ADVANTAGE OF SKILL IN FLY DRESSING. 141 



the chinks of a wooden foot bridge ; but these floating 

 substances we noted invariably rose to the surface 

 almost immediately. But when, on the other hand, 

 there are myriads of any particular fly out, the 

 thorough earnestness displayed by the feeding fish, as 

 they eagerly absorb the abundance of food thus pre- 

 sented upon the surface of their native element, bears 

 a marked contrast to their former demeanour ; and 

 when the angler happens not to possess an imitation 

 thereof to present, in nine hundred and ninety-nine 

 instances out of a thousand, his lure will meet with 

 an unflattering reception. It is then that the 

 proficient fly-dresser, by a little display of patience 

 and ingenuity, proves equal to the occasion, and 

 by the prompt exercise of his art, rules the cir- 

 cumstances to which his less accomplished brother 

 of the rod must bow. 



Great disappointment is often experienced by the 

 uninitiated (and we regret to have to admit there 

 should exist grounds for honest complaints) in procur- 

 ing flies dressed to any particular artificial or natural 

 pattern. The prevailing custom would appear to be 

 simply to choose the fly in stock, bearing the best 

 resemblance to the pattern required in its various 

 details ; and as this is occasionally limited in its 

 character, the credulity of the fisher is not infrequently 

 imposed upon. These and other tests of patience, the 

 angler, who has become an apt fly-dresser, spares 

 himself. Upon the other hand, it is but fair to point 

 out the little drawbacks it is necessary to surmount. 



Firstly, then, time is essential, as a matter of course, 



