OLD FLIES IN NEW DKESSES 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTORY 



THOUGH it would not be true to say 

 that hitherto writers on fly-dressing have 

 shown any lack of power of observation, 

 still it is unfortunately true that their 

 energy seems, strangely enough, to have 

 stopped short at observing the natural 

 fly, and has not been sufficient to carry 

 them on to making even passable imi- 

 tations, except of Ephemeridae. With 

 the exception of this family of flies, no 

 one could possibly recognise the artificial 

 through knowing the natural fly which it 

 is supposed to represent. Yet the fisher- 

 man who knows the natural fly well by 

 sight will go on using these imitations 



B 2 



