74 AMERICAN FISHES. 



ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



(See Frontispiece to Supplement.) 



The superiority of " fly-fishing" over every other mode of angling, 

 cannot be questioned, even by the most ardent admirer of the float or 

 ground-bait. The natural and acquired skill actually necessary, be- 

 fore any man can throw a " neat fly," is only known to those who have 

 made this method of angling their study and amusement. I believe 

 that no man was ever made a " fly-fisher" from written instruction. 



The rudiments may be acquired from books ; but a practical know- 

 ledge of the art can only be acquired by patience, perseverance, and 

 good temper. All works on angling contain something on the subject ; 

 and if my angling friends do not find sufficient instruction in my " Fish 

 and Fishing," they must be content to begin with old Isaak, and travel 

 down to the last authority. 



It is extremely difiioult, if not impossible, to present a correct and 

 satisfactory list of artificial Trout flies. Every angler has his own 

 favorite fly, particularly if he is in the habit of fishing in one particular 

 pond or stream. The fly which may be found most killing on Stump 

 Pond, may not stir a fish in the adjoining water. 



In 1848, the " ibis" was all the rage in Stump Pond ; it was wholly 

 worthless at Speonk and Mauritohez. The accompanying plate con- 

 tains flies of acknowledged merit, and generally used in the waters of 

 this State ; and I feel assured, from my own experience, as well as from 

 the accounts of others, that no angler can be at fault when his book 

 is supplied with flies of the character described in the drawing. 



I am Indebted to Thomas Finnegan, of this city, for much valuable 

 infoimation in relation to the exact colors used in making the follow- 

 ing described flies ; and indeed the greater number of them have been 

 prepared by him, and the coloring arranged under his supervision. 



By turning to the plates, and number of each fly, the reader will. 



