CHAPTER IX 
THE FIRST MENTION OF A FLY 
THE first mention of fishing with a fly occurs apparently in 
Martial’s lines, “‘ Namque quis nescit, | Avidum vorata decipi 
scarum musca ?’’ which have been translated :— 
‘“ Who has not seen the scarus rise, 
Decoyed, and killed by fraudful flies ? ” 1 
These lines are of surpassing interest. In them we may 
possess the very first mention of a fishing fly, whether natural 
or artificial, in all the records written or depicted of the whole 
world. 
If the reference be to an artificial fly, it certainly antedates 
by some two centuries the passage of AZlian (XV. 1), which has 
hitherto been universally acclaimed the first mention of such 
a fly. If on the other hand the reference be to a natural fly, it 
antedates by the same period of time the first mention of the 
natural fly, or rather winged insect (kéverp), to be found also 
in Alian (XIV. 22). 
And here, pray, observe the cold calm of the classical com- 
mentator! This passage, which, as I have said, may be the 
very first historical document testifying to the use of the fly, the 
very first tiny beginning of the immense literature consecrated 
to the fly, the very first starting point in the fly fisher’s journey 
of sore travail to farther knowledge, this passage so pregnant 
of possibilities and so provocative of comment, has never, I 
believe, been suggested by any editor as possibly the Jocus 
classtcus of fly fishing, far prior to the generally adopted passage 
of Alian. 
Even if we make great allowance for the wrath of the 
1 Ep, V. 18, 7 £, 
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