126 ANGLING SKETCHES 



It may be different in Norway or on the lower 

 casts of the Tweed, as at Floors, or ^lakerstoun ; 

 but higher up the countr\-, in Scott's own country, 

 at Yair or Ashiesteil, there is often a terrible 

 amount of fruitless work to be done. And I 

 doubt if, except in throwing a very long line, and 

 knowing the waters b\' old experience, there is 

 verj' much skill in salmon-fishing. It is all an 

 affair of muscle and patience. The choice of flies 

 is almost a pure accident. Ever}' one believes in 

 the fly with which he has been successful. These 

 strange combinations of blues, reds, golds, of tinsel 

 and worsted, of feathers and fur, are purely fan- 

 tastic articles. They are like nothing in nature, 

 and are multiplied for the fanciful amusement 

 of anglers. Nobody knows why salmon rise at 

 them ; nobody knows why they will bite on one 

 day and not on another, or rather, on man}" others. 

 It is not even settled whether we should use a 

 bright fly on a bright da}-, and a dark fly on a 

 dark day, as Dr. Hamilton advises, or reverse the 

 choice as others use. ]\Iuscles and patience, these, I 

 repeat, are the only ingredients of ultimate success. 



