CHAPTER VI 



CREEPER AND STONE-FLY FISHING 



THE stone-fly, as fishermen know it, is included in 

 the Plecoptera Order of naturalists, of which there 

 are about twenty-four species in Britain. It is 

 distinguished from the others under the name of 



o 



Perla bicaudata. 



It is, of course, fished as a bait, and some anglers 

 despise bait-fishing. Therefore, in venturing to 

 write about stone-fly fishing, I have had to remind 

 myself of the great diversity of opinion in the world 

 in regard to what is considered good form in all 

 kinds of sport. Not only in sport, but in many 

 other things, there are to be found strange differ- 

 ences of view. Even Tolstoy could discover no 

 merit in Shakespeare, and George Meredith is said 

 to have disparaged Dickens. Remembering all 

 these things, individual faith stands out as a sheet 

 anchor and a sort of reassuring refuge. 



But does the stone-fly itself require any form of 



special pleading? It will probably be agreed all 



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