68 FISHING GOSSIP. 
wood to assign it a local habitation and a name as a 
natural insect. 
The natural May-fly is not unfrequently used for 
dibbing or daping, as it is termed, which is merely 
fishing on the surface of the water with a real fly. It 
is scarcely possible to fasten a natural fly on the hook 
so that it can be thrown like an artificial one, and con- 
sequently, where there is any space of water to cover, 
and a nice gentle breeze, recourse is had to what is 
called blowing the fly. A blow-line is formed of a 
very light, fine kind of floss silk, sufficiently strong 
for its purpose, and yet so light as to be susceptible to 
the influence of almost the softest zephyr. With but’ 
a light air, in the right direction, and a little judicious 
manipulation of the rod, as easy to be imagined as 
described, the angler manages that the fly shall fall 
softly as thistledown on the desired spot, where a 
trouty triton is observed eagerly swallowing down his 
insect dainties. The lure, if at all adroitly managed, 
seldom fails ; the fly is sucked in, a smart twitch fixes 
the well-tempered steel barb, and after a short struggle, . 
the finny prey is successfully brought to bank. To 
bait a hook with the natural fly is a rather delicate 
operation, but, with care and dry fingers, it can readily 
be accomplished. The hook should be inserted under 
one wing, and the point brought out upwards between 
the two wings on the back. Two flies generally are 
used, placed on the hook tail to tail. 
