Fly-Fiftiing. 23 



any more than I am inclined to deny that the 

 believer in the Profeflbr's theory may tempt a few 

 trout to their ruin by the perfevering employment 

 of " Sam Slick/' or " Long Tom." It would be 

 a great treat to us, however, to fee him fifh fairly 

 in the fame water with his favourites fide by fide 

 with friend Pifcator in the height of the May- 

 fly feafon. If he did not at the end of the day 

 devoutly wifti the ProfefTor and his quackery (I 

 mean it in no offenfive fenfe) had never been in- 

 troduced to his acquaintance, I would almoft un- 

 dertake to fwallow them all put together at a 

 mouthful, with " Sam Slick" and " Long Tom" 

 into the bargain. 



I forbear faying more on this fubject for fear of 

 exhaufting your patience, which, if a fincere can- 

 didate for pifcatorial renown, you will require in 

 no fmall proportion. I would only add by way of 

 conclufion that if any of the Profeflbr's flies, with 

 very inelegant names, prove at any time deftruc- 

 tive, my own experience allures me that it is be- 

 caufe they refemble (though it may be diftantly) 

 fome fly on the water that trout have an efpecial 

 relifh for. 



For your benefit, if you are a novice, I have 

 furnifhed you with a lift of flies in the Appendix, 



