ON CREEPERS. 109 
for trout and old smelt in April and May, fished on the fly 
hooks. They may be kept in water pots, for use, or until 
they fix and hatch, by keeping the water fresh ; close thick 
woollen bags (to exclude the air) are the best to take them 
out in, now and then dipping them in water. 
9TH.—FRECKLED DUN CREEPER (stickbait).—Length, 
half an inch ; head, shoulders, and legs, black ; body a light 
blue dun. The vegetable appendages impart a dye which 
freckles or darkens the stickbait tribes. Length of case 
about three quarters, with its appendages of stems, etc., to 
an inch and a quarter. Their buoyant dwellings compel 
them to choose still waters, but in their rambles for fixing 
they oft may be seen propping and contending against the 
stream. 
10TH.—LEAST FRECKLED DuN CREEPER.—Length bet- 
ter than one-eighth ; head, shoulders, and legs black ; body 
leady ; case near a quarter, covered smooth with fine brown 
soil, and looks like a short piece of rusted wire. 
Nore.—The remaining portions of the creepers of these 
three classes have their growth in the water, and hatch 
their flies in the way that has been described. The creepers 
and flies furnish the greatest portion of the insect food of 
the fish—the choice of trout, grayling, and smelt, and the 
select of the craft the season through. They may be termed 
the regular forzes of the flyfisher, for nature has bound each 
numerous swarm—when its time comes to appear and shew 
itself on the water—to the fish, every day of their dur- 
ation. The land flies and insects come on the water by 
accident, and never so numerous or ever so regular. The 
creepers tell the forthcoming of the flies. The streams of 
Ripon abound with every variety ; in fine weather and low 
waters they may all be found at their times, under loose 
