114 ON HACKLES. 



for him. He casts them among their living kindred 

 spread numerous over the waters while the fishes are 

 taking and feeding upon them all around him. The 

 hackle goes on the water, a chance comer, alone, un- 

 known, and untasted, a solitary stranger, without com- 

 panion or friend ; save its form and glitter by which 

 it now and then dazzles the eyes of the fish but is 

 rarely noticed when the living supplies are at hand. 

 Still it scarce can be doubted that the hackles are the 

 best casual artificial baits that can be used when the 

 fish are not roused to feed on any favorite. Time has 

 hallowed them, and experience has stamped their worth 

 to many a flyfisher, who has often proved them the 

 lions of the day. 



The hairy caterpillars are the larvae from the eggs 

 of moths and butterflies, embracing numerous species, 

 many of which with the flies and moths they produce 

 are brilliant foundations for the salmon fisher. They 

 are bred on land, of various sizes, from a quarter to- 

 two inches and more in length ; but when dressed for 

 stream fishing, from a quarter to three-quarters. Their 

 colors are various, rich, and reflective red, brown, 

 black, and grizzle which are the colors of the old 

 standard hackles. They are covered on the back and 

 sides with a fine thick short hair, which stands up per- 

 pendicular from the body. From out this covering of 

 short hair there grows, but much thinner, some hairs- 

 that are longer and more bristly. Nothing can be 

 found to imitate these long hairs equal to the fine fibres 

 of the matchless cock -hackle feather, and peacock or 

 other harl, for the short hairy covering of the body. 

 Their rich colors, their elastic and reflective qualities, 



