156 ANGLING. 



Where the stream is but light, and equally diffused, the 

 salmon is quite as likely to be in the middle of the stream 

 as at the sides. It has a fancy for the quiet water be- 

 tween two currents formed by pieces of rock intercepting 

 the stream. Where the streams unite, there the salmon 

 lie. 



I have pointed out, in a previous chapter, the method 

 of bottom-fishing for salmon. I will now touch upon the 

 tender ground of the flies. 



There are some anglers who affect to believe that it little 

 matters what combination of colours or materials you use 

 salmon will rise at them. That mere patterns are absurd 

 we do not believe, though mere form is perhaps of less 

 consequence in salmon- fishing than in fishing for trout. 

 The size of the fly is, however, of more importance. When 

 the waters are high, large flies are freely taken ; when low 

 and clear, smaller flies are imperatively necessary. Old 

 anglers used to affirm, that in dull weather a bright fly 

 should be used, and in bright weather a dull fly. Modern 

 anglers know better than this, and practice has confirmed 

 their knowledge. Bright insects belong to sunny weather, 

 as philosophy and reason have pointed out. 



Before I proceed to describe the different sorts of salmon 

 flies, let me advise the young angler to make his own. He 

 will find it a great advantage, and a source of great recrea- 

 tion ; and to enable him to judge of how they should look, 

 here are six or seven beauties, old friends of mine, well 

 known on the Shannon. 



On the " Queen of Island Rivers," as the guide-books 

 call the magnificent Shannon, these flies are exceedingly 

 popular, though many of the ordinary flies are larger and 

 Borae even more gaudy, 



