ON TROUTLKG, TROUT FLIES, ETC. 91 



feeding upon them there also. When the flies come 

 up thickly to the surface, as formerly described of 

 the March Browns, and no trout takes them ; for 

 a trial of skill mutilate the wings of your flies by 

 picking them off about half-middle (not cutting 

 them) ; or rather by tying down the top of the 

 wings to near the tail of the fly, which makes its 

 appearance something like the maggot released from 

 its first case on the bottom stone, and on its ascent 

 to the surface. Then, as much as you can, let them 

 sink low in the water, altogether below those flies on 

 the surface, and you will most likely succeed in 

 getting a few trouts, as then they take them for the 

 grub newly come out of its case on the ground stone, 

 and not yet quit of the silk-like film in which it is 

 bound up with its wings laid up in one fold, like 

 a man with his wrists tied to his arms below his 

 oxter, with the arm-pit joints having free motion. 

 These pellicles, or second skins, which the flies cast 

 off, you may see lying like chaff, covering the water 

 edge, as drifted into coves and eddies, about the end 

 of April and beginning of May. 



When you find the trouts decidedly preferring the 

 small fly of your pair, it being newly come on while 

 the former is fading off, then discontinue the large 

 606 one, and constitute your pair both of the small 



