WHY DO THE FISH RISE? 135 



and at times they do better with five-sixths removed. 

 This may seem to be rank heresy, but it is the result of 

 actual experience, and success has been achieved by 

 adopting this method when the fish absolutely refused 

 the fly as originally dressed and offered, although it was 

 supposed to be an imitation of the fly actually on the 

 water at the time, and to which they were rising. 



Before closing these random notes I recall an 

 incident that happened two years ago. The trout 

 were rising in a very desultory manner, and for a long 

 time our efforts were vain. But at last a plump fish 

 of a pound and three quarters was landed, and an 

 autopsy performed. The only contents of the stomach 

 were an ordinary half-burnt wooden match and a chip 

 of wood about an inch long : so this suggests, when 

 they will not rise to a dun, try a lucifer before giving 

 up in despair, the blackened head and whitish stalk 

 may have suggested a cadclis worm to the fish. 



