230 FISHING GOSSIP. 



same dresser is formed of peacock herl, wings of tur- 

 key-tail, or the feather of the wing of the hen-pheasant, 

 a black hackle extending from the vent to the head, 

 and a few turns of black ostrich harl and twist or 

 gold tinsel at the tail. The whole resembles a good 

 deal^a palmer to which wings were added. As exem- 

 plifying the caprice of salmon, or of those who profess 

 to know exactly their tastes, it may be remarked that 

 the flies used on a neighbouring river the Conway 

 and rising in the same mountain range as the Dee, often 

 combine the brightest tints of the silk-dyer with the 

 richest colours of tropical plumage. Possibly the 

 mystery which now envelopes the question may yet 

 be reduced to narrow limits. Problems of equal or 

 greater difficulty in other departments of natural 

 science have yielded to perseverance, research, and 

 well-directed experiment. 



For the information of anglers unacquainted with 

 the topography and arrangements of the Dee fishery, 

 it may be necessary to observe here, that what is 

 called the Glendwyr Preserve, embracing the finest 

 part of the river for salmon -fishing, extends from the 

 village of Llansaintffraid, about three miles below 

 Corwen, to the chain bridge near Valle Crucis Abbey. 

 The distance between these points is about seven 

 miles, road measurement, but twice that length per- 

 haps, following the sinuous windings of the stream. 

 In this space are included the four most celebrated 



