132 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



above " The Webbs/' in Mertoun-water, without 

 having an offer ; being convinced there were fish 

 in it, I went over it a second time with the same fly 

 immediately afterwards, and caught two salmon 

 and two gilse. Now if I had changed my fly, as is 

 usual, the success would naturally have been attri- 

 buted to such change. But, observe, I do not mean 

 to assert that all flies are equally successful, for 

 there must obviously be a preference, however 

 slight ; but I mean merely to say that a failure 

 oftener occurs from atmospheric variations than 

 from the colour of the fly. Yet an occasional change 

 is always advisable, particularly if you have had 

 any offers ; since the fish in so rising, having, per- 

 haps, discovered the deception, will not be solicitous 

 to renew their acquaintance with a detected scamp. 

 After all, the great thing is to give the appearance 

 and motion of a living animal.* 



Once, when I was adjusting my tackle on Tweed 

 side, I was accosted by a native fisherman in these 

 words ' Ye need na fash yersel the day wi' yer lang 

 wand, for I wud na gie a pinch o' snuff for a' that 

 ye'll get ; there are too many pouthered lawyrs 

 aboot." Powdered lawyers ! I gazed around me, 

 and did not see a single gentleman of the long robe. 

 What on earth could the man mean ? and what 

 had a powdered lawyer to do with my sport ? Upon 

 explanation, I found out that he alluded to the 

 numerous puffy white clouds above. Whether the 



* The attractiveness of various flies is still a mystery, but \ve 

 have a little more to go upon now than Scrope had, thanks to the 

 experiments of Dr. Francis Ward. Cf. Appendix. (Eo.) 



