THE "HORNET" FLY. 313 



guide your steps. The first few days after the salmon com- 

 mence to run large flies are more successful, but as the 

 season advances their size must be reduced. 



The next morning, bright and early, found us again upon 

 the river. The number of seals which I had seen the pre- 

 vious evening induced me to take my rifle, with the in- 

 tention of having a little practice during the noonday rest. 

 The rocks in the estuary appeared a perfect nursery of 

 these curious animals, and, from their numbers and well- 

 known destructive habits, immense quantities of salmon 

 must be annually destroyed to satisfy their fastidious and 

 insatiable appetites. I have since found out that the hab- 

 itants (persons of French extraction) frequently pay visits 

 to this locale for the capture of these valuable amphibia, 

 their oil and skins fetching long prices in our principal 

 markets. Since yesterday the water had fallen some inches, 

 but I had little fear that where fish were so numerous and 

 little disturbed it would unfavorably affect their disposi- 

 tion to take. Having faith in the fly, I designated "the 

 drummer." I determined to experimentalize with others, 

 retaining my old friend as a last resource in case of failure. 

 I therefore selected a former favorite, known by many as 

 " the hornet," and whose texture and shape had produced 

 good results in many localities. The fly is made as fol- 

 lows : Wings from the fine fibres of the English cock pheas- 

 ant's tail; body of yellow worsted or amber - colored mo- 

 hair, the mohair to be preferred ; the body to be ribbed 

 with black and made full, with a large red cock's hackle, 

 black at the roots, wrapped several times under the butt of 

 the wings. Having got my rod together, I commenced 

 work, and the success which had attended my efforts of the 

 day before and my choice of flies were quite equaled by 

 this day's performance. The third cast I rose a superb fish, 

 but, unfortunately, scratched him, and had the same mis- 



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