272 THE SALMON FLY. 



I have many a time roused a Salmon with the " Blue-bell " ; but some 

 years since, fishing at Stanley on the Tay, Major Traherne wrote to me: 

 " For the last three days the fish would look at nothing, but I tried a 

 ' Blue-bell ' last night and have had rare fun with it to-day, getting three 

 fish in one pool, the largest 28 Ibs. ' Blue-bell ' is not satisfied with 

 anything under 20 Ibs. I don't think it should be regarded as an 

 ' exaggeration ' any longer." 



,- Many years ago I visited some noted water on the Test. Doctor 

 Lewin accompanied me purposely to inspect the principle of " exaggera- 

 tions." Upon arriving at the river-side we were escorted by the water- 

 bailiff and a despondent Angler who remarked : " The best advice I can 

 give you is to go home ; there is not the ghost of a chance. No one has 

 risen a fish here for a fortnight. They are there, but the water is 

 low and foul to a degree positively offensive to the olfactory nerves." 



The excellent disciple of ^Esculapius drew a long face. 



" Now is the very time," said I. 



However, on reaching the pool for which I had set out my friend 

 said : " I should like to see you fish the water down with the usual flies 

 before trying any of your pet theories." 



" Certainly," I replied, but after a time, having done no good, I urged 

 that it was " mere waste of time to use such flies." 



" Ah, it's just my luck ! " observed the Doctor. " Give it up and come 

 to Sonning with me, for you might just as well try for a Salmon in 

 the Thames." 



At that moment a voice from behind a hedge exclaimed, " There's a 

 fish about 14 Ibs. in front of you and it has seen every fly in my book this 

 morning." 



But there was nothing for it, I sat down beside the hedge and, after 

 making friends and a little explanation, in an hour^or so had two or three 

 hundred small Chatterer feathers, forming the body, on a 6/0 hook : whilst 

 the wing, composed of Jungle and toppings, was further decorated 

 with double Amherst horns. I splashed the lure (I should not do so 

 now) just once about two yards above the spot indicated and gently 

 drew it away. 



Nothing was seen not a stir. 



