Concerning Flies 235 



When we try to speculate on such 

 matters, it is " but shrewd guessing." 



My own feeling is, that trout take them 

 as imitations of one or other of the insects 

 I have named already, viz. the Blue Dun, 

 as it at first appears, with leaden-coloured 

 wings : the Iron Blue. I have frequently 

 felt, though it is impossible to prove, that 

 trout may occasionally feed upon the natural 

 fly y as it is ascending to the surface. At other 

 times I have imagined for who can observe 

 what is invisible to himself ? that, in early 

 spring, when the temperature of the water 

 is nearly down to freezing-point, and the 

 wind seems blowing from an iceberg, that 

 the flies may make an honest effort to rise 

 to the surface ; but, losing vitality through 

 becoming benumbed, may be carried help- 

 lessly down stream, being thus picked up by 

 any hungry trout. 



My reasons for thinking so are, that, 

 many and many a day, when no flies have 

 been visible on the surface and, as a direct 

 consequence, few or no trout break the 

 surface in the welcome " rise " a fisher- 

 man, if he only understands the secret of 

 fishing with a sunk fly, can, even then, often 

 get a large basket of trout. 



Under such circumstances a "pull," 



