FLY-FISHING. 299 
The angler, then, we shall suppose; commences 
operations at the head of a pool or stream, and, 
throwing his flies as far as he%can across from where 
he is standing, raises his rod and brings them gradu- 
ally to his own side of the water. He then steps 
down a yard or two, repeats the process, and so on. 
Having dismissed the idea that the angler can imitate 
the flight of a living fly along the surface of the 
water, we must suppose that the trout take the arti- 
ficial fly for a dead one, or one which has fairly got 
into the stream and lost all power of resisting. A 
feeble motion of the wings or legs would be the only 
attempt at escape which a live fly in such a case 
could make. What then must be the astonishment 
of the trout, when they see the tiny insect which 
they are accustomed to seize, as it is carried by the 
current towards them, crossing the stream with the 
strength and agility of an otter? Is it not much 
more natural to throw the flies up, and let them come 
gently down, as any real insect would do? 
In addition to drawing their. flies across the 
stream, some anglers practise what is called playing 
their flies, which is done by a jerking motion of the 
wrist, which imparts a similar motion to the fly. 
Their object in doing this is to create an appearance 
of life, and thus render their flies more attractive: 
An appearance of life is certainly a great temptation 
to a trout, but it may be much better accomplished 
