44 SALMON" FLIES. 



imitation of nature is not in this, as in general cases, 

 the ground on which the salmon-fly angler can pos- 

 sibly proceed ; since, in this pursuit, he is left in a 

 great measure to his own fancy; until from long 

 experience he has discovered the combinations of fur 

 and feather with which he finds himself, or perceives 

 others, most generally successful. 



From experience in dressing flies for other people, 

 and frequent angling for my own recreation, I have 

 long ago decided on the flies which the salmon 

 seems generally to prefer. These I have reduced 

 into six distinct kinds ; and on investigating why 

 these should generally be more successful, they will 

 be found to embrace all the clearly marked distinctions 

 of the leading character of the flies in common use. 

 For instance, suppose you were to collect all the flies 

 generally used on the Tweed, they would, at first 

 sight, present the appearance of an endless confusion 

 of variety; yet I am convinced you could not classify 

 them into above six, or at most seven distinct kinds, 

 in which the decided principle of all the vague variety 

 of colour in fur, wool, and feather, would be found 

 to concentrate, Consequently, the best known mat- 

 erials, wrought into the best practical combinations 

 for proper effect, will be found to constitute the half 

 dozen flies I shall here endeavour to describe ; and 



