30 I GO A -FISHING. 



fish do so. Instinct leads them to some habits, education 

 to others. 



Now to return to the white fly. The discussion is quite 

 vain, into which so many fishermen have gone, on the 

 question whether the artificial fly is to be used on the im- 

 itation theory. Trout take some flies because they resem- 

 ble the real fly on which they feed. They take other flies 

 for no such reason. And in this they are like men. If 

 you have entered a restaurant to dine, having made up 

 your mind to eat roast beef, you will not be moved by any 

 eloquence of the waiter who recommends the mutton or 

 the turkey, or any number of other dishes. Roast beef 

 you want, and you will have it. So, when trout are feed- 

 ing on a particular fly, and have their appetites set upon 

 it, you will see them rising every where to take that fly, 

 and you can not coax them to touch one of all that you 

 are able to offer them unless you happen to have an imi- 

 tation of that bonne bouche. Yet it may occur that one 

 or another trout has no such set appetite, and once in a 

 while such a rover will take your offer of almost any thing. 



The Doctor had his reasons therefore for dressing a 

 white fly. If I were compelled to give a theory on the 

 subject, I should refer to my experience. I have fre- 

 quently killed trout in swift water with a white fly at 

 midday, and I think the trout takes it for a fish and not 

 a fly ; for I have observed that he generally seizes it 

 with open mouth on a sharp rush, and does not strike it 

 first with his tail, as he does usually in taking a fly. 



The white fly raised a pound fish, and the doctor 

 landed him after a brief run. Then another not so large, 

 and then a half dozen smaller fish. So his theory was 

 sustained. 



We worked dilisentlv for half an hour down the bank. 



