244 NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 



salmon, or chub, after casting twelve, fifteen, and even 

 twenty times, the bait being subjected to an all round 

 inspection each time of its appearance. It is thought 

 by some, that by this repetition of casts and workings 

 the fish finally becomes eager, under the impression 

 that from the constant succession of baits they are 

 becoming numerous. Be this as it may, that the fish 

 do take this bait not only in these, but in a variety of 

 other circumstances, is now an established fact, placed 

 beyond all dispute. We have personally used this 

 lure for more than forty years, and can fully testify as 

 to its killing powers when properly presented. By its 

 use the fly-fisher is enabled to pursue his sport at any 

 time of the day (or night) when the fish are not 

 rising, and all ordinary means fail. This bait was 

 originated by a famous Dove angler some half-century 

 or so ago. This worthy, however, assiduously kept 

 the thing private, and it was finally divulged in a 

 purely accidental manner. Mr. Professor having, 

 during a fly-fishing match, through a laxity of vigi- 

 lance, left a type of the unknown mystic lure upon a 

 twig on the opposite bank, his rival, upon whom the 

 action had not been lost, being in the vicinity, took 

 the opportunity of solving a problem that had per- 

 plexed him and other fishermen for several seasons, 

 as to the nature of an artificial capable of killing 

 almost unfailingly, and that, too, when all ordinary 

 artificials were all but useless. The discoverer referred 

 to, was the writer, from whom the author of the " Fly- 

 fisher's Entomology]' and the general public, obtained 

 the secret of the mid- water fly. As Mr. Ronalds 



