164 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



the use of single gut and a much smaller fly than 

 any I had previously used. Carefully turning 

 over every leaf of my book, I had half decided 

 more than once in selecting one, but as often 

 hesitated when I looked at the diminutive barb 

 and thought of the giant in whose jaws I fondly 

 hoped to fix it. Suddenly I recollected that 

 among the larger flies, wound round the cork 

 band encircling my hat, was a very small one, 

 tied but a few days previously for me by that in- 

 comparable artist, Shanks, of Craigellachie, on a 

 minute double hook, a few of which I had pro- 

 cured on my way through London for the express 

 purpose of employing them in clear low water 

 with heavy fish. The little beauty was a modest 

 Spey lassie, known as a " silver green," and not 

 larger than one of the lake trout-flics I had often 

 used in the west of Ireland. The casting-line 

 and terminal loop were of single gut, by no means 

 thick, but perfectly smooth and cylindrical, every 

 link of which I had previously tested, selecting 

 only a few of the best from each hank. Now for 

 the trial. I had marked the spot where the fish 

 rose by placing a few stones on the top of the 

 bank immediately opposite, and perceiving that I 

 could reach it without difficulty from the shore, 

 I commenced a little higher up, increasing my 



