22 FLY-FISHING. 



fishing on many of the principal rivers and lakes 

 in the three kingdoms. 



With regard to Salmon-fishing the arguments 

 adduced against a multiplicity of flies apply, and 

 with even greater force, inasmuch as it is not pre- 

 tended by any one that Salmon-flies really imitate 

 the colour or form of any known insects, but are 

 rather spontaneous evolvements from the internal 

 consciousness of anglers and tackle makers. They 

 are certainly more numerous in their endless 

 variety of colour and pattern than even Trout-flies, 

 and are proportionately more useless, except to 

 those who are paid for making or selling them. 

 The result of my investigations is, that there is 

 only one essential in the construction both of 

 Salmon and Grilse-flies, and that is brilliancy and 

 strength of colouring ; and that in proportion as 

 they fulfil these conditions are their killing proper- 

 ties. Size is on the contrary an element con- 

 stantly varying from local circumstances. A large 

 river or lake usually demands a large fly, and vice 

 versa, and this again should be larger or smaller 

 according as the weather is dark or bright, windy 

 or calm. These are all points requiring the exer- 

 cise of judgment, for in their combinations they 



