180 A SCOTTISH FLY-FISHER 



had never heard of it, and in others it aroused no 

 curiosity. The cause of their indifference is not easily 

 discovered ; the superiority of the eyed-fly is so decided 

 that one might reasonably expect the angler to respond 

 at once to its appeal. It effects a considerable economy 

 of time, and, incidentally, of time's equivalent, the end 

 of all our striving — money. It enables the angler to 

 change his fly with the utmost expedition ; in fifteen 

 seconds, according to Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell's cal- 

 culations. The estimate does not err on the side of 

 generosity. It may, in specially selected circumstances, 

 be possible to accomplish the change within the period 

 stated, but under many of the conditions to which the 

 practice of the angler's art exposes him, he will cer- 

 tainly require an extension of time. 



Even Mr. Cholmondeley-Pennell himself must occa- 

 sionally exceed his limit. The angler on board a boat 

 tossing wildly on a tumultuous sea sometimes measures 

 in minutes the time consumed in threading the gut 

 through the eye of a tiny hook. The task is not easy. 

 Planted firmly in his seat, he grips the fly between the 

 thumb and the index finger of his left hand, and, taking 

 the gut in his right, prepares to execute the delicate 

 manoeuvre. The process seems simple enough, and he 

 is just congratulating himself on the immediate success 



