A SALMON'S HOLIDAY. 245 



must lessen the effect of the pattern in use by taking from the wing part 

 of the more conspicuous materials before allowing the fish to make a 

 second inspection. Thus " Jock Scott " having risen a fish, the Angler 

 cuts, not pulls, from the wing the "Jungle " sides, as well as the under, 

 not the upper, half of the white-tipped Turkey underwing. He will 

 resort to this practice only in the event of his being without a sombre- 

 winged fly (such as " Charlie " or " Fairy ") having a yellow and black 

 body. The Angler, however, who is familiar with the practice is always 

 prepared with various " modifications " of the general standard flies of the 

 river he is fishing. 



All modifications belong to the list of "nondescripts," but a few have 

 become standards. The more intimately acquainted the Angler makes 

 himself with the specific purpose of each one of these, the better for his 

 season's record. The real purpose of any " nondescript " I allude to 

 those not as yet classed or described, but which are found in the book of an 

 adept is simply illustrated in the above case of the "yellow and black 

 body " ; in other words, some sort of companion fly has to be presented 

 to the fish which rises and refuses. As another illustration, the " Lee 

 Blue " would be followed by the " Lee Blue and Grey." 



The really formidable consideration which will confront the learner 

 is that connected with the Salmon's play hours and " half-holiday? " 



These intervals come as suddenly as they end. What I mean is, that 

 fish, up and down the river, suddenly cease to take good hold of a fly, and 

 rise only to tug at it. Yet even here Time is a reasoner too powerful to 

 be overcome. Success, if attainable at all, is not denied in such a crisis 

 to those who come at once down to small, sombre patterns, to " Elsie " 

 and her class, which carry extra large and extra showy " sides " and 

 " cheeks." But if these intervals arise from thunder or pollution, the 

 Angler may rest for awhile. Grilse, however, do not so much mind a 

 thunderstorm. 



In my opinion, all flies should have their " Grub " ; by this, I mean 

 a wingless nondescript having three, four, or five sectional hackles on the 

 body. But with all the foregoing examples, I have touched scarcely more 

 as yet than the fringe of the subject ! Perhaps I ought to come now to 

 discuss the effects upon fish of a certain secret force latent in Nature, and 



