98 May-fly Horn. 



29th of May, varying according to the forwardness or 

 lateness of the season. It is always earlier on the lower 

 streams of the rivers than on the higher ones, and con- 

 tinues in some seasons, as on High Tees, almost to July. 



The best method for carrying these flies is by means of a 

 horn like a forester's, bored with plenty of small holes for 

 air ; bung up the wide e.nd, and for the other have a cork 

 with a hole through it for a string to pass through, having a 

 knot at each end to prevent it slipping ; leave a tag at 

 the outer end, pass the string through a hole made in 

 the inner side of the neck of the horn, and attach this to 

 your strap. This will allow the cork to come only a 

 short distance, and when let go, it will be pulled into its 

 place. 



The." Practical Angler" says : " If the flies are coming 

 down with their wings out of the water, the trout make 

 a fair rise at them, but, what is rather singular and quite 

 unaccountable, rarely take a proper hold. It is better to 

 have the flies thoroughly soaked" [to make them more tender 

 and palatable and hence more tempting ! Is that the case, 

 Mr. Stewart ?] " and under the surface, when the trout 

 take them in a much more deadly manner ; and the first 

 indication the Angler receives is a stoppage of the line, 

 when he should slacken for a moment or two; then 

 strike down stream, and be very careful in landing, as the 

 fish thus taken are very large and strong." Such advice 

 is certainly rather singular and quite unaccountable, Mr. 

 Stewart. First of all, how do the natural flies float down 

 the stream ? Is it not with their wings out ? Most 

 surely it is. Then why try to improve upon nature? 

 Should she not be our guide ? Keep, I say, the fly on the 

 surface of the water with its wings out and dry, and 

 floating down to you with the current ; and when a fish 

 rises strike straight up, as you are generally below the 

 fish ; if not, a little across. Trout sometimes miss the 



