CHAPTER VI 



FAVOURABLE AND UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS 



There are three separate and distinct classes of 

 conditions to be considered in reference to this branch 

 of the subject, (i) Those appertaining exclusively to 

 the fish ; (2) The climatic conditions ; and (3) The 

 nature of the locale. 



Careful and prolonged study of the habits of the 

 trout or grayling, whether feed- 

 Conditions appertaining ing on the nymphs, larvae, 

 exclusively to the fish, pupae, or the winged insects or 



taking crustaceans, mollusks, 

 minnows or other small fish, should obviously be the 

 first stage in determining whether the behaviour of 

 the fish is such as to foreshadow at the moment a 

 favourable or unfavourable opportunity for the dry-fly 

 man. A man possessed of abnormally keen vision 

 can, possibly, in a good light, discern with accuracy 

 the nature of the animal food which a fish is taking, 

 but even with the best of eyesight it is a fatiguing and 

 wearisome business. When the light is fading it is 

 practically impossible. 



The use of instruments of precision for all scientific 



or semi-scientific purposes is to be recommended, and 



the manifest modern improvements effected in all 



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