FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 281 



The special danger here indicated is likely ere long to be a 

 thing of the past. The eyed hook is now in the field, and when 

 perfected will render what is now the weakest point in the deli- 

 cate gut required for trout fishing practically secure against 

 irregular friction. But thus far the * eye ' appears too clumsy 

 for the tiny flies which most require it. Had I to design an 

 eye suited to the smallest hooks, I should borrow a hint from 

 the needle-maker, forming the orifice for the gut like that in a 

 small gold-eyed needle, though rounder, and lining it with some 

 soft metal. The lapping at the head of the fly would thus be 

 quite inconspicuous, while the shank of the hook would keep a 

 true line with the gut. For the present, however, the ' capital ' 

 danger must not be ignored. 



Every knot, again, is a weak point in the cast ; especially if 

 tied in a hurry or not carefully soaked before use. A couple 

 of spare collars which have lain m the slop basin during your 

 breakfast may be carried round your hat with great advantage. 

 Apart from an utter smash by bough or root — which is never 

 impossible if you are in a hurry — it is often less troublesome to 

 change the whole collar than to repair a trifling damage. 



Having now dismissed the preliminary question of strength, 

 I find myself face to face with the extensive and complicated 

 subject of flies considered as lures ; of the best flies for use, and 

 the circumstances under which these or some of these will be 

 found most useful. 



To this subject no single essay can do justice, owing to the 

 number of flies which have a recognised value only within a 

 limited district. But in order to deal with it at all, one must 

 first encounter that qucestio vexatissiina — Whether artificial flies, 

 generally speaking, are imitations of some particular insect, for 

 which they are taken by the fish, or nondescripts (to borrow 

 * Ephemera's ' form of expression) which are seized only on 

 account of their general appearance of life. The former posi- 

 tion is generally maintained by English authors on fly fishing ; 

 the latter by brethren of the angle north of Tweed, or among 

 the mountains of North Wales. Now, that the artificial fly 



