NORTHERN PREJUDICES. 223 



form an interesting and amusing study. It is ex- 

 tremely hardy, being a lover of inclement weather. 

 Its water nympha frequents the cold spring heads 

 during the whole summer, rising to the surface in 

 clouds whenever the weather happens to be dull, 

 with obscure sun. A cloudy morning will entice 

 myriads from the watery depths, the fish being in 

 turn allured from their accustomed haunts in the 

 bed of the river to the surface of the water, where they 

 regale themselves upon these prim little yacht-like 

 insects. Great execution may often be effected 

 through the medium of a good copy of this especial 

 favourite of the fish, even in the hands of an in- 

 different rodster, though it is not to be inferred that 

 any artificial, or even a bad rendering of the Iron 

 Blue will be equally effective as when the light 

 coloured " blues " are absorbing the attention of the 

 fish. The dark shade will, in clear water, often fail 

 to accomplish much ; in these circumstances, no 

 matter how well the fish may be rising, other 

 " artificials," infallible as they may be in their seasons, 

 will prove utterly useless. 



Whilst fishing the Kennet upon one occasion, not 

 very long ago, a rather striking instance of this came 

 before our notice. Out of a round half-dozen of 

 fishermen upon the length we were about to fish, 

 there were two northern anglers, spider theorists. 

 These gentlemen, being strongly prejudiced against 

 the southern regimen, had very eloquently declaimed, 

 prior to our setting forth, against the absurdity of 

 attempting to copy any special fly, maintaining 



