INTRODUCTION 



WRITERS on Trout-fishing, who are ignorant 

 of the Nature and Habits of aquatic Insects, 

 are apt to give instructions for the making of 

 flies which are so utterly unlike anything in 

 Nature, that it would puzzle any one to discover 

 what they were intended to represent. 



The Author of the following pages has 

 endeavoured to describe, as distinctly and 

 accurately as he possibly could, such flies as 

 are found to be generally useful in angling for 

 Trout and Grayling. His aim has been to 

 seize their colour, size, and character. The 

 following anecdote will show the importance of 

 a close imitation of the natural fly. 



Long ago, a few young Professors had fished 

 down the lowest part of the Derbyshire Wye, 

 to its junction with the Derwent; and also a 

 short portion of the latter river. They had 

 been unsuccessful, for the water was low, and 

 fine, and their skill was not very great. How- 

 ever, they had succeeded in persuading each 

 other that fish were not to be caught that day 

 by any one; they were lounging upon the 

 bridge at Rowsley, when one of them ex- 

 claimed, ' Now we shall have some fun^ here 

 i A 



