Imitating a Trout's Fin 



skilfully made at all times to meet with 

 unqualified success. Hence it is that 

 much of the advice written in this 

 country for the benefit of wet fly fish- 

 ermen may be traced to those whose 

 principal fishing has been done in wil- 

 derness waters, and is intended for 

 others who go far beyond the bounds 

 of civilization for their piscatorial pleas- 

 ure. Many of the most popular and 

 killing wet flies imitate neither insect 

 nor any other form of life. The Parma- 

 cheene belle, for instance, the most 

 popular of all lures in Northern waters, 

 was invented in the early eighties by 

 Mr. H. P. Wells, to imitate the belly- 

 fin of a trout. Why a belly -fin, so sel- 

 dom seen by a fish detached from the 

 body of its original owner, should be 

 conceived to be a natural or a favorite 

 food has not been explained. Yet the 

 attractions of this fly in many lakes 



[107] 



