LOUGH DERG. 205 



Slievan here, and you begin by cutting up 

 the old flies." 



In half an hour's time each of the fisher- 

 men had a casting-line, with one spare one 

 between them, in case of accidents ; and as 

 for flies, M'Gowan turned them out as fast 

 as they were wanted. There were black 

 and red buzzes, and palmers with all sorts 

 of coloured bodies, from a couple of unfor- 

 tunate cocks that were slinking about the 

 yard, as if ashamed of their disfigured necks. 

 There were wall-flies, made of the landrail's 

 wing, and midges from the starling, and big 

 burly bluebottle flies, and two or three other 

 sorts — not very neat, certainly, nor parti- 

 cularly durable, but quite good enough for 

 lake trout in tinged water, with a bright 

 rippling breeze. 



" There," said the Parson, as he looped 

 on his stretcher or tail-fly, " that is the use 

 of being able to make flies for yourself. I 

 would never recommend a man to make his 

 own trout-flies ; it does not pay in time or 

 money : but he should be able to tie them, 

 so as to know when they are tied properly ; 

 and once or twice in his life he will turn his 

 knowledge to good account." 



