156 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHTNG. 



fisher's Entomology and Hofland's British Angler's Manual, 

 and even from such uupretending works as Best's Art of 

 Angling and The Jolly Anglers. In some of the manuals, 

 too, diagrams will show him how to use his fingers in 

 manipulating the different materials. Lessons, however, 

 from an oral and digital instructor will do more for the 

 pupil than all the books. 



" Dibbing," " daping," or " dapping," with the natural 

 fly is a recognized method of killing trout ; but, as a fine 

 art, it cannot be compared to whipping with the artificial 

 fly. It requires, however, to insure success considerable 

 adroitness and craftiness, to say nothing of most' laborious 

 care. An adept at this game has most of the distinctive 

 qualities of a good angler ; and, unless the fish are quite 

 off or the locality unsuited to this method of fishing, he 

 will seldom fail to produce a good show of fish. And, 

 after all, to the angler, like other good sportsmen, though 

 he does not actually "look to the pot,'" one of the great 

 pleasures of a day's sport is \o display to his family and 

 friends the substantial results of his skill and patience. 



As the season advances, and the water in many rivers 

 gets very low and bright, a day J s dapping is surely 

 legitimate enough. Among the best flies for the purpose 

 may be mentioned the May fly, the alder, the stone fly, 

 and the " down-hill fly." This last-named, a large, flat 

 fly, with mottled wings, is found especially on the trunks 

 of oak trees and park palings, and always with his tail 

 upwards ; and yet does not seem to suffer from blood to 

 the head ! But really almost any fly will answer for 

 dapping, house flies and bluebottles being perhaps as 

 killing as any. It is not the fly, but 7iow you use it, that 

 determines your success ; how you manage to secrete 



