Flies and Fly-fishing. 353 



again and again. Indeed I have come to regard it as 

 an unfavorable indication for sport when the large trout 

 roll to the surface freely. I have heard many reasons 

 assigned for this, but I notice that the confidence with 

 which these are asserted is in inverse proportion to the 

 opportunities for observation of the asserter. The really 

 experienced freely confess themselves altogether at a loss 

 to account for this state of affairs. For some reason or 

 other that the fish will not bite is apparent, but why 

 has so far eluded investigation. I know that some brook 

 fishermen will jump to the conclusion that these trout 

 are then feeding on gnats, and that with such flies they 

 might then be taken. Let me assure such, that the an- 

 gler's golden rule, " If one thing don't work, try another," 

 is not altogether unknown to the Maine fishermen. Flies 

 of all sorts and sizes have been tried under these circum- 

 stances together with every wile known to fishermen 

 (except a shot-gun), and all in vain. Indeed I have 

 heard of one gentleman who, driven to desperation, dis- 

 carded the fly and took to bait. Three hooks were at- 

 tached to his line, armed respectively with a mouse, a 

 piece of salt pork, and a raisin. 



Again, two years ago, I went with a friend up the Ma- 

 galloway River, in the same State, above Parmacheene 

 Lake. It seemed as though one could easily catch a 

 tubful of trout that day. Using but a single fly, we 

 stopped at one hundred and fifty apiece long before the 

 day was done, returning all to the water except the few 

 which were injured beyond recovery. They were small 

 fish, few above a pound and a quarter or below half a 

 pound. Two days afterwards I accompanied some friends, 

 then visiting that region for the first time, over the same 

 ground. No rain had fallen, and the height of the wa- 



