170 ANGLING. 



rell had occasion to see two fish varying from 38 to 

 40 pounds each. But we believe the largest salmon 

 ever known, was that which came into the posses- 

 sion of Mr. Groves, fishmonger, Bond Street, which 

 weighed 83 pounds. It was a female, comparatively 

 short for its weight, but of unusual depth and 

 thickness. Its flesh was finely coloured, and of high 

 flavour. The largest we ever heard of as having 

 been killed in Scotland with the rod, was that men- 

 tioned by Mr. Lascelles. It weighed 54^ pounds. 



The most successful bait, as well as the most 

 agreeable in the usage, is the artificial fly. This is 

 alleged to be made in imitation both of dragonflies 

 and butterflies of various kinds ; but the principles 

 which we have already endeavoured to establish at 

 the commencement of this article, make" it unneces- 

 sary to describe the so-called natural species, which 

 in fact do not exist. Even those who most warmly 

 advocate the necessity of imitating existing insects 

 in the formation of their lures, admit that the sal- 

 mon is so capricious as frequently to rise at an 

 artificial fly which bears no resemblance to any 

 known form of insect life. 



The following are the descriptions of six artificial 

 flies which have been found very successful in rais- 

 ing salmon. See Salmon-flies, Plate 1st. Fig. 1. 

 is recommended as a spring-fly, and is composed of 

 the following materials : Wings of the dark mot- 

 tled brown or blackish feather of a turkey ; body of 

 orange camlet mixed with a little mohair ; and a 

 dusky red or bright brown cock's hackle, plucked 

 from the back where the fibres are longest, for the 



