SALMON- ANGLING. 317 



trout ascend in numbers in the autumn. These being gen- 

 erally shallow and rapid, a large fly would frighten as many 

 as it would attract. If you fish with a small hook of sober 

 colour in such troubled water, it might not catch their sight. 

 Streams of this kind are in best order when tumbling over 

 stock and stone something like the colour of London porter. 

 The reason why a large fly of sombre hue is preferred for a 

 stately river, arises from the depth and clearness of the water. 

 A large fly is required to catch the attention of fish at the 

 bottom, while gay colours would be apt to alarm them as they 

 come up, when the water is so clear. When a large river is 

 also rapid, as in the higher parts of the Tay, the fly may be 

 proportionably bright. The size of the stream is an excellent 

 criterion for that of the hook ; and you may see every village 

 urchin fishing for the spring trout in Tweed with a hook double 

 the size of that which he uses in Gala, or any of the other 

 tributaries, for the very same purpose ; the favourite fly in 

 both cases being a woodcock-wing, hare's-ear body, tied with 

 blue thread. 



In the deep rocky parts of the river, especially at the be- 

 ginning of the season, put on your largest fly, trying a smaller 

 should you not get a rise. In the rapid Highland streams, 

 where, as I have said before, a small fly should be used, if 

 you need any alteration, let it be in colour rather than in 

 size. But on this point, as no invariable rule can be given, it 

 will be better to get advice on the spot, if you can obtain it. 

 For instance, though the Thames is so sluggish, and the 

 trout so wary, the most killing fly there is what they call 

 " the soldier-palmer " that is, a bright-dyed hackle, red pig's 

 wool, and gold tinsel. 



When fishing for salmon only, never have two flies on your 

 cast. The pleasure of hooking more fish will not make up 

 for the vexation of losing one, even should more be secured in 

 the long-run. This, however, must be a matter of taste. By 

 changing the fly judiciously, you have nearly as good a chance 



