CHAPTER II 



THE FLY 



O problem of interest to 

 the angler has excited 

 livelier controversy than 

 that which concerns the 

 dressing of the lure. The 

 Engrlishman asserts that 

 success in fly-fishing is 

 to be attained only by 

 the use of an accurate 

 imitation of the fly disporting on the water ; the 

 Scotsman is convinced that the trout is catholic in 

 his tastes, and, when on the rise, readily and cheer- 

 fully takes any lure that bears the semblance of an 

 insect. Neither the quasi-scientific nor the avowedly 

 rule-of-thumb practitioner has any difficulty in pro- 

 ducing abundant evidence of the efficacy of his method 

 — and the conclusive testimony with which each sup- 

 ports his case gives countenance to the contention of 

 the Scot. 



