254 SALMON AND TROUT. 
growing upon it to make a basket to carry him home. The 
weight of the fish has never been ascertained, and it is justly 
supposed never will be. I think it right to state that the 
Major was not the author of the story. 
I have made no specific reference in this article to fly 
fishing for any of the Sa/monide except the true salmon, Salme 
salar. 
Of the two other migratory species, the bull trout, Sadmo 
eriox, and the sea or salmon trout, Salmo trutta, the former 
possesses very limited interest for the fly fisher, and in regard 
to the comparatively few rivers in which it will rise to the arti- 
ficial fly the genera] observations which are here offered on 
salmon fly fishing will be found applicable. 
Sea-trout fishing, on the contrary, takes, as a sport, rank 
next to salmon fishing itself. In many parts of England and 
Wales, and over most of the districts of Scotland and Ireland, 
the sea trout, under this or some local name, is known and fished 
for. As in its relative size—standing in this respect between 
brown trout and salmon—so in the tackle, flies and rods em- 
ployed in its capture, the bright gamesome Salmo trutta occu- 
pies a sort of half-way house between the two species. The 
most convenient-sized rod, whether for lake or river fishing, 
will be found to be what is known as a double-handed trout rod, 
from 13 feet to 16 feet in length, and carrying a reel and line 
similar to that used for salmon-fishing, but smaller and lighter 
to suit the shorter and less powerful weapon. As to the mode 
of using the rod, casting, &c., the instructions given in regard 
to salmon fishing hold good almost in their entirety, as also those 
on gaffing, netting, and so forth. 
With respect to the flies used, which again stand midway 
between salmon flies and brown trout flies—ranging from the 
ordinary sized lake trout fly up to a large grilse or small salmon 
fly—there can hardly be said to be any generally known or 
accepted standard patterns. Almost every locality (I might say 
almost every fisherman) has its own patterns and ideas. The 
only point in which there can be said to be the smallest approach 
