THE BIGHT SORT OF FLY. 257 



which I shall return) that the Salmon's motive in taking flies is a problem 

 which has frequently been misunderstood ; and that, in the case of Trout, 

 all doubts have long since been set at rest. 



Naturally enough, in fishing either for Salmon or Trout, one judges 

 by what comes under one's own immediate notice. On the Wandle, for 

 instance, as a humble spectator myself, I have seen Trout prefer the 

 artificial to the natural insect that is to say, an " Olive Dun," by 

 Holland or by Hardy, floating down stream in company with several living 

 flies of the same kind has been so singularly attractive and effectual as to 

 force the fish to leave the others alone, and " go " for it. Then on several 

 rivers, Salmon always, and for the most obvious reasons, hold in abey- 

 ance habits of existence, which, however, invariably assert themselves at 

 the first opportune occasion ; and then a fly, equally true to nature as 

 regards colour of body, or exact in some other peculiarity, is just as 

 necessary to ensure good sport. 



Now, if I may venture to say so, no further evidence is wanted to 

 satisfy me that, in the matter of like and dislike, and discrimination as to 

 what they conceive good to eat, Salmon are exceedingly nice. In fact, I 

 attribute my greatest angling successes to the conclusion that, not long 

 after a flood, the impetuosity of the Salmon's nature is held in check by a 

 downright " business faculty " of a highly efficient kind, and that his 

 " enthusiasm " rarely impels him to lavish even as much as curiosity upon 

 a fly unless it be the right sort i.e., a tasty bit put before him in the right 

 way. And yet we encounter narrow worshippers who simply burn for the 

 heat of the fray,, and publicly declare they can hold their own in com- 

 petition with only three or four patterns ! Their doctrine is contrary to 

 reason, it has no meaning, except on the Dee in Spring, and it is 

 impossible. 



But to the world at large to see for certain what a Salmon does is a 

 rare accomplishment. People for the most part are not gifted with the 

 power of sight, or the power to employ their sight, to detect its habits 

 when feeding in fresh water ; and have never seen the explanation given 

 in books, because the writers could not explain ; some, even officials, going 

 so far as to say, " They don't feed at all ! " 



Even if we had the necessary power of vision and the inclination of 



s 



