THE SALMON FLY. 



predispositions, obey fixed natural laws, and are never troubled with 

 " intellectual " originality, even of a rudimentary type. If he is as 

 immovable as the rock of the river-bed to-day, and then gives himself 

 away to the artless lure of the rawest novice on the morrow, depend 

 upon it, there is an underlying cause, which it were more profitable to 

 seek for, than to cover up with the convenient term " caprice." 



In the choice of flies and the method of making and using them, the 

 improvements of recent times have been patent and far-reaching. 



When we come to analyze what a fly really is, we must associate 

 ourselves with that reform in fishing which opposes much " received 

 opinion ; " and our attitude is justified by unmistakable and undeniable 

 evidence. As a sample of the experiences on which I found some of my 

 views against " received opinion," here is a narrative which may not be 

 altogether uninteresting. It dates from 1849, when I commenced my 

 earliest investigations on the river Darenth. 



The late Sir P. D , my father, and Mr. J. G. C . had been 



discussing at Halstead Place the question of rod-material, and of trying 

 a new kind of wood purchased by the latter of these gentlemen for 



making ram-rods. In a few days, by the valuable help of Mr. C , 



himself a first-class workman, I turned out an 11 ft. 6 in. green-heart 

 Trout-rod. On testing it, we soon found that we could cover with it more 

 water than with the rods of hickory which we had been accustomed to 

 use. Presently below the saw-mill our attention was drawn to a Pike 

 of about 5 Ibs. weight, lying close to a barrier of wood- work forming the 

 upright side of a sheep-wash. 



As some one about that time Mr. Jewhurst, I believe, the inventor 

 of one of our best standard flies had created a stir in the district by 

 killing one of these fish with a "Butcher," I, having no other means at 

 hand to secure it, dressed a similar pattern and caught the Pike with it. 



" What on earth," said my father, "did the fish take that fly for? 

 Get under the water and see what it is like." 



Little indeed did I dream of the benefits which this inspection 

 would lead to. But it was not until after some half-dozen trials that I 

 succeeded in getting a good view of the fly. The bed of the river at 

 the sheep-wash was muddy, and I could not stay under water long 



