A THEORY 95 



of the fancy Trout-flies are also taken for 

 small fish. 



In many waters, however, the effect- 

 could hardly be made brilliant, as shallow 

 water, shade produced by weeds, &c., and 

 muddy or dark bottoms would all militate 

 against its being so, and in these waters 

 probably only lures that imitate the actual 

 colours of the object they represent would 

 be of any use. 



In fresh water and in the case of trout, 

 as I have pointed out, there are many 

 aquatic creatures which serve as food 

 which have the power of swimming through 

 the water. 



My theory, stated briefly and more ex- 

 plicitly, I hope, than was the case in my 

 article in The Field, is that under circum- 

 stances in which the wet-fly behaves more 

 as does some creature having the power of 

 swimming through the water, it is better 

 to imitate this creature than any natural 

 fly on the water, which cannot in any case 

 behave in such a manner ; and what I wish 

 to advocate is, that imitations of these 

 aquatic creatures should be made and 

 used. 



