100 How to preserve May -flies. 



If your flies are small, use smaller hooks ; for the flies 

 naturally never go down the water two together, there- 

 fore follow nature where practicable. 



Gather your flies the night before you use them, but 

 not earlier, as confinement may kill them, and keep your 

 horn in a damp place, or, better, in your garden, if you 

 have one, and under a bush, to prevent the sun's rays 

 getting at them. They will keep sometimes this way 

 two or three days; under necessity you may use dead 

 flies, if not too dry, though, of course, you must not expect 

 the same sport with them as with the live fly. 



You may either use your ordinary fly-rod (but if a 

 very fine one you will only strain it, and it would be 

 better, in that case, to use a stronger one), or your worm- 

 rod, if not too stiff. From ten to twelve feet is quite of 

 sufficient length, and the lighter the better for comfort's 

 sake. 



My method of making the artificial May-fly is given 

 in the list of flies hereafter named, and has proved, on 

 windy days, very successful. 



The Angler must keep in mind that in those brooks 

 having high banks, and few or no gravel-beds, he will not 

 find the May-fly, or s.tone-fly, but the green-drake ; and, 

 vice versa, though not to so great an extent, some green- 

 drakes being found on almost all streams where willows, 

 &c. fringe the edges here and there. 



