386 MANUAL FOE YOTJNG SPORTSMEN. 



latter are so thoroughly imitated by the artificial fly called 

 the palmer, that they are scarcely ever employed. There 

 is no doubt that in angling natural products are better 

 than artificial, if they are equally capable of enduring the 

 rough usage required to drag them through the water. 

 In this respect it is that the artificial palmer beats the 

 hairy caterpillar, its original ; and hence the latter is 

 almost wholly driven out of the angler's list of baits. 



Salmon-roe is a very favorite and killing bait for trout, 

 and is found to be so destructive that its use is often con- 

 sidered to be a species of poaching. I cannot understand 

 on what principle this odious stigma should be cast upon 

 its adoption, because it may be employed, like any other 

 bait, in open day ; and the only objection to it which can 

 be urged is its very great success. No one would call an 

 unerring shot a poacher, simply because he kills more than 

 his neighbors ; then why should the bait which is more 

 successful than any other labor under this imputation ? 

 It appears to me that every one is straining to effect a 

 certain purpose, viz., the killing of the greatest number 

 of fish, and yet when a certain mode of attaining this 

 object is at hand, its adoption is forbidden because it will 

 insure what all are aiming at, and by open means too. 

 However, as I cannot discover any real foundation for 

 this crusade against the salmon-roe, I shall include it in 

 the list of baits, and describe its preparation and mode of 

 application to the hook. The roe itself should be collect- 

 ed as near the time of spawning as possible, and should 

 either be preserved whole, or be made into a paste at once. 

 If the former, the best way is to keep it in a jar, with 



