18 FLIES AND FLY FISHING. 



each of these flies for its particular prototype on which 

 they have been feeding at some recent period. The fact 

 is the general fly theory is a very convenient one to men 

 who fish seldom, and if it was only true would save them 

 a great deal of trouble, but I think would greatly diminish 

 the pleasure of the constant fisherman in the sport. Mr. 

 Stewart, who has written a book on the subject, inclines 

 to this general fly theory, but the flies he recommends 

 will all kill fish, more or less, especially in the North and 

 Scotland; for they are all good general flies, that 

 is, each is a fair imitation of several different actual 

 flies. In the same way as when fishing with the 

 Hoffland's fancy, or general flies, Nos. 3, 4 and 6 in 

 this book, you would always stand a chance of killing 

 some fish ; but I maintain that with my imitations of 

 nearly all the principal flies on which the fish feed I 

 could always hold my own against Mr. Stewart, or any 

 one using his flies on the rivers and small streams in 

 Scotland and the North, whilst if they used only his flies 

 they could not do the same with me on any of the streams 

 throwing up numbers of different flies in other parts of 

 England and Wales, and also on many rivers and streams 

 abroad.* 



* This was written some time before Mr. Stewart's death. 



