ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 
THE cottage holmster tanned and trained pockets his fish- 
ing book, no other book he wants, and wends his way with 
rod and pannier to his accustomed streams. His intuitive 
glance quickly catches the prevailing fly, when his ready 
hand as quickly creates the mimic favorite that sends him 
ladened home. 
The purpose of this book is to bring the natural flies 
before the eyes of the flyfisher, for the art of imitation is 
in much better perfection than the knowledge of the natural 
flies, and it is essential that both should be known alike. 
A lesson or two on the art from the profession or skilful 
craft, is much shorter and surer than book instructions. 
The following observations may furnish some necessary and 
useful hints. 
The weather affects the stomachs of fish, and greatly 
varies their appetites. During pending rains and easterly 
winds they are dull and abstemious, when few are taken 
by the flyfisher. When the atmosphere is genial the trout, 
under cover of thick waters, dark nights and cloudy breezy 
days, or in the absence of top food, is often as voracious 
as the pike—he scours the streams and margins of rivers 
in search of substantial bottom food, when he will chase 
minnows until they fly out of the water, and runs at any 
sizeable living thing that comes in his way. His dart and 
his grab is like the cat with the mouse, when his prey 
rarely escapes, or him the baited hook ; although daring, 
