220 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



these fish, fully expecting to do much execution by such 

 unnatural lures, will, in nine hundred and ninety-nine 

 chances in a thousand, be grievously disappointed ; an 

 odd brace, indeed, may be considered the average yield 

 per diem of the nondescript artificials. 



Our earnest endeavors have always been to put the 

 novice in the way for thorough sport ; and having this 

 object in our mind's eye, we would impress upon the 

 mind of such an one that, although in an exceptional way 

 a fish now and again at rare intervals may be turned over 

 by almost anything in the shape of an artificial, usually 

 they are found to be more expert in discerning the points 

 of difference between a natural and its copy than any 

 trout that ever evaded hook. Their visual organs we be- 

 lieve to be superior to those of any other fish ; for, al- 

 though they habitually lie at the bottom of the water, 

 they are not only greater adepts at fly-catching, but can 

 discern the most trivial deficiency in color of any imita- 

 tion of what may be so monopolizing their attention. 

 Prodigious takes of these fish are often secured, when 

 fully upon the rise at the flies with which the water's 

 surface is laden ; but these are effected by an exercise of 

 considerable proficiency and caution on the part of the 

 rodster. The October shade of the Iron Blue Dun order, 

 the April shade of the Olive Duns, together with the 

 Willow and Needle flies (small), and Gray Palmer, are 

 the flies that will be found in this month. In unseason- 

 able weather there is often a multiplicity of winged in- 

 sects about, each species having but few representatives; 

 in these circumstances the sunk-fly system may be prac- 

 tised with success. This is more particularly resorted to 

 upon still deeps, when the cast of flies, after being 

 thoroughly saturated, is allowed to sink some five inches 

 beneath the water's surface. Here the rodster has to 

 discern by the feel when a fish touches the lure. Gray- 

 ling will often examine the fly in a very leisurely sort of 



