ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



THE cottage holmster tanned and trained pockets his 

 fishing book, no other book he wants, and wends his 

 way with rod and pannier to his accustomed streams. 

 His intuitive glance quickly catches the prevailing fly, 

 when his ready hand as quickly creates the mimic fa- 

 vorite that sends him ladened home. 



THE purpose of this book is to bring the natural 

 flies before the eyes of the flyfisher ; for the art of 

 imitation is in much better perfection than the know- 

 ledge of the natural flies, and it is essential that both 

 should be known alike. A lesson or two on the art 

 from the profession or skilful craft, is much shorter and 

 surer than book instructions. The following observa- 

 tions may furnish some necessary and useful hints. 



THE weather affects the stomachs of fish, and greatly 

 varies their appetites. During pending rains and easterly 

 winds they are dull and abstemious, when few are ta- 

 ken by the flyfisher. When the atmosphere is genial 

 the trout, under cover of thick waters, dark nights and 

 cloudy breezy days, or in the absence of top food, is 



