68 FISHING GOSSIP. 



wood to assign it a local habitation and a name as a 

 natural insect. 



The natural May-fly is not unfrequently used for 

 dibbing or daping, as it is termed, which is merely 

 fishing on the surface of the water with a real fly. It 

 is scarcely possible to fasten a natural fly on the hook 

 so that it can be thrown like an artificial one, and con- 

 sequently, where there is any space of water to cover, 

 and a nice gentle breeze, recourse is had to what is 

 called blowing the fly. A blow-line is formed of a 

 very light, fine kind of floss silk, sufficiently strong 

 for its purpose, and yet so light as to be susceptible to 

 the influence of almost the softest zephyr. With but 

 a light air, in the right direction, and a little judicious 

 manipulation of the rod, as easy to be imagined as 

 described, the angler manages that the fly shall fall 

 softly as thistledown on the desired spot, where a 

 trouty triton is observed eagerly swallowing down his 

 insect dainties. The lure, if at all adroitly managed, 

 seldom fails ; the fly is sucked in, a smart twitch fixes 

 the well-tempered steel barb, and after a short struggle, 

 the finny prey is successfully brought to bank. To 

 bait a hook with the natural fly is a rather delicate 

 operation, but, with care and dry fingers, it can readily 

 be accomplished. The hook should be inserted under 

 one wing, and the point brought but upwards between 

 the two wings on the back. Two flies generally are 

 used, placed on the hook tail to tail. 



