FISHES AND FISHING. 215 



atmosphere, — every ripple that marks the whereabout 

 of the fish. The yellow dun for the tail fly, and the 

 red palmer for the bob, are generally sufficient for 

 most streams, with a white moth for the approaching 

 darkness. A few flies of this description, and an 

 extra line or gut-length, wound around the hat for 

 readiness, and the saving of time, are far better than 

 a heavy and useless book of flies. On some occasions, 

 however, it is necessary to be provided with a few 

 materials more closely resembling the flies upon which 

 the fish may be feeding." — ("Sporting Scenes and 

 Country Characters, by Martingale.*' Longman and 

 Company.) 



There are, nevertheless, peculiar artificial flies 

 which are very attractive on some rivers ; for instance, 

 the river Wandle; no May-fly is ever seen on it, 

 neither do its waters become thick by storms of rain, 

 like the Mole and the Wey, but it has a small fly, 

 which all the London fly-dressers know as the cock- 

 tail. I have departed from the usual shop fly, bearing 

 this name, with, great advantage to my sport, by 

 making the two little hairs of the tail, of fibres of the 

 golden pheasants' topping, or blue fibres of the king- 

 fisher ; also, by having some of the extreme ends of the 

 bodies of a corresponding blue, or bright yellow. 



In the Dartford river, a very dark red palmer, with 

 peacocks' herle, and a little bright yellow at the end 



