24 FLY-FISHING. 



and three for Trout, Grayling, &c. for the ivholc 

 of the artificial flies now used. 



That there are a great number of existing 

 patterns of flies for each different kind of fish, 

 most anglers are probably aware, but perhaps few 

 have any very distinct notion of what the number 

 really is. In a small collection of my own, con- 

 sisting of so-called " standard" flies only, and 

 those for Salmon and brown Trout alone, I find 

 there are 121 distinct patterns, or " species." But 

 these are a mere drop in the ocean. Besides 

 Salmon and Trout-flies proper, there are the 

 endless varieties of flies for Grilse, Salmon-Trout, 

 Bull-Trout, Grayling, Sec., the general total having 

 been estimated by a recent writer at more than 

 one thousand patterns. In fact, their name is 

 simply " legion." With most, if not all, fish may 

 no doubt occasionally be killed, and with some, 

 excellent baskets made ; but yet, painful as the 

 admission must be to the accomplished student of 

 angling entomology, and fiercely as it will be con- 

 tested by many a gallant veteran of the old regime, 

 it is nevertheless true that nine-tenths or rather 

 ninety-nine hundredths of these graceful com- 

 binations of furs, silks, and feathers represent so 

 much wasted time, money, and ingenuity. 



