EQUIPMENT FOR SOUTH AFRICA 225 
natural fly. Yet the President of the South 
African Fly Fishers’ Club, Mr. E. Chappell, told 
me recently that one day he saw on his lawn at 
Parktown West, an object which looked so much 
like a blue jay that he thought one of the 
specimens from his fly box must by some 
mysterious means have wandered thither. It 
was, however, no artificial fly but a live creature. 
The size of the fly used must depend a good 
deal upon the river itself. For big rainbow trout, 
if they are rising to the wet fly,a No. 7 (Limerick, 
old scale) is not too big; for Loch Leven and 
brown trout the size may be anything between, 
and including, No. 12 and No. 9 (Limerick, old 
scale). Ina dry climate eyed flies are obviously 
better than flies tied to gut, and hackle patterns 
are as a rule better than winged. Even if I were 
tied down to six varieties of wet fly, I should 
personally like to have also a few varieties of dry 
fly. 
: As receptacles for the trout when caught I 
have seen all sorts of things used, from the simple 
haversack to the wicker creel. Baskets have the 
advantage of letting more air in, and therefore 
tend to keep trout fresher, but a fairly big wicker 
basket is bulky and therefore may be incon- 
venient. A suitable bag is made of twill or 
canvas, with leather fastenings and straps. Inside 
it I like a waterproof compartment, fastened by 
buttons. These waterproofs, which hold the fish, 
are of course washable. A landing net capable of 
being slung or otherwise attached to the angler or 
Q 
