■ 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 Shelf .i£:.!I5. 
 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 BEING A 
 
 General and Instructive Work on Artistic Angling, 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 DAVID FOSTEK. 
 
 COMPILED BY HIS SONS, AND EDITED BY 
 
 WM. C. HAKKIS, 
 
 EDITOR OF THE " AMERICAN ANGLES. ' 
 
 ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 
 
 751 BROADWAY. 
 
 1883. 
 
5 V^ >A 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in ifae year 1883, by the 
 
 ORANGE JTJDD COMPANY, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
THE EDITOE'S PEEFACE. 
 
 David Foster, the author of " The Scientific Angler," 
 was born at Burton-on-Trent, England, September 22d, 
 1815, and at the date of his recent death, was known 
 wherever a salmon, trout or grayling fly is thrown in 
 the kingdom of Great Britain, as the Izaak Walton of 
 the nineteenth century. This angling patronymic, joined 
 to that of " Old David,'' by which he was more famil- 
 iarly known, indicates the esteem and affection in which 
 he was held by English lovers of the angle. He was 
 certainly one of the most observant and practical rod- 
 sters that England, where the cultured angler is an 
 artist, has ever produced. The book before us is an 
 attestation of this fact. 
 
 My province, as editor, has been confined to foot 
 notes, more or less copious, in which I have endeav- 
 ored to make plain to the American reader the ang- 
 ling phrases, terms and tackle used in England, giving, 
 so far as practicable, American analogues of the English 
 fish. The text of the author remains untouched, with 
 
 the exception of the exclusion of a few paragraphs on 
 3 
 
4 THE EDITOK S PKEFACE. 
 
 fishing for barbel, bream, and tench, and the chapter 
 on fish culture — the reader would have found in the 
 former but little of value, and the latter is far behind 
 the present advanced status of fish culture in America. 
 It will be noted that the foot notes, which are all 
 my own, are free from critical comments on the author's 
 views; from which I have designedly abstained, although 
 not a few paragraphs of the text are in conflict with the 
 approved practice of the best American anglers. 
 
 WM. C. HARRIS. 
 
 New Yobk, 1883. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Chapter I. 
 The Habits and Haunts of Fish 7 
 
 Chapter II. 
 The Habits and Haunts of Fish ( Continued) 32 
 
 Chapter IH. 
 Bottom Fishing (General) . - . 44 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 Bottom Fishing {Continued). - 59 
 
 C ha pter V. 
 
 Bottom Fishing (Continued) 64 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Pike Fishing ........ 70 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Spinning for Trout - 83 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 Worm Fishing for Trout... 92 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 Grub Fishing for Grayling 97 
 
 5 
 
6 CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 Piscatorial Entomology 101 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 On Fly Making 123 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 
 Fly Fishing for Trout and Grayling 145 
 
 Chapter XIII. 
 
 Live Fly and Beetle Fishing ..182 
 
 Chapter XTV. 
 
 Notes on the Month for Fly Fishing 185 
 
 Chapter XV. 
 
 Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing 224 
 
 Chapter XVI. 
 About Hooks 240 
 
THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 
 
 POWER OF VISION, HEARING, ETC., POSSESSED BY FISH.* PERI- 
 ODIC MOVEMENTS AND HABITS OF SALMON, BROWN TROUT, 
 CHARR, GRAYLING, AND PIKE. 
 
 The habits of fish depend in no small degree on the 
 power of their senses, and to these we will briefly allude 
 before dealing with the subject in detail. The first 
 faculty to claim our attention is that of 
 
 Sight. — The clearness with which a grayling, lying 
 
 * The subject of the senses of fishes is the cause of much curious 
 comment and speculation among angling naturalists, who do not wil- 
 lingly consent that the class Pisces shall be placed upon a plane below 
 that of the insects. The belief that fishes possess qualities which 
 reach a standard beyond the instinct of self-preservation has recently 
 gained in strength and interest, owing to the increased facilities that 
 fish culture has given us to observe their habits. It is conceded by 
 naturalists that certain insects, and many of the lower animals, have the 
 power of imparting mutual intelligence by processes unknown to us. 
 The little ants hobnobbing with each other ; the cooing dove wooing its 
 mate vocally ; the hen clucking her brood under protecting wings, are 
 familiar instances of vocal intercourse among insects and birds, and no 
 one who has watched the minnows of a shallow pool, has failed to see 
 equally sure indications that fishes have a way of their own in com- 
 municating with each other. I have often seen them dart swiftly to- 
 wards each other, putting nose to nose, and in a moment or two scull 
 leisurely away with what looked to me like a self-congratulatory flirt of 
 the tail, as if the matter communicated was of the utmost importance 
 to fish life in general. 
 
 (?) 
 
8 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 at a depth of eight or ten feet of water, can distinguish 
 a small speck of a midge, invisible almost to the human 
 eye, is often a matter of comment and surprise. All 
 fish, however, are not equally well endowed in this re- 
 spect; but it may be safely affirmed that their organs of 
 sight are quite as well adapted to their native element — 
 water — as arc those of birds and respiratory animals 
 generally to the atmosphere. But, on the other hand, 
 experience tends to prove that the more suited the eye of 
 the fish may be to his particular element, the more in- 
 distinct is his vision beyond it. "We have an instance of 
 this in the grayling, which, although more cautious and 
 timid, and possessed of keener visual organs than the 
 trout, will rise much nearer the rodster, and is not so 
 easily disturbed and affrighted. The inferiority of a 
 fish's perception of objects in the air, as compared with 
 what is m or upon the surface of the water, partly arises 
 from the fact that the eye adapts itself to the medium 
 through which the rays of light arc transmitted. We 
 have frequently observed the pupil of a fish's eye con- 
 tract considerably in the course of a second or two after 
 it has been taken from the water, from the same princi- 
 ple which causes the pupil of the eye of the domestic cat 
 to expand or contract as the light diminishes or increases. 
 Observation shows that it is the moving object that 
 frightens the fish.* We have seen trout suddenly cease 
 feeding and return to their accustomed retreat upon our 
 merely raising an arm; and when their "holt" has 
 proved to be near the opposite bank, and we have been 
 
 * Fish arc startled by shadows to a degree hardly understood or 
 valued, as cause and effect, by the angler in his search for a successful 
 6Core. A moving dark line reflected by an uplifted arm. or by an 
 overhanging rod, or the dense and sharply-cut shadow cast by the 
 pier of abridge, will cause them to sheer off affrighted; especially in 
 the latter instance, when shad, in their upward swim to their spawning 
 grounds, have been seen to turn tail-fin and dart down stream pell-mell, 
 as if a demon shark was anion? them. 
 
THE HABITS AND TIAUNTS OF PISH. 9 
 
 in full view, in clear relief upon a high hank, on keeping 
 perfectly stationary for fifty to seventy minutes,* they 
 have again ventured into the open to take our fly. From 
 a constant repetition of convincing experiments, we have 
 been led to infer that the crystalline and various other 
 humors of a fish's eye are capable of reflecting only a 
 vague and distorted image of any object that may be 
 even a yard from the water's surface. We have stood 
 over the center of a stream, upon a narrow plank, placed 
 within a few inches of the surface of the water, perfectly 
 motionless, just as the fish have turned out of their 
 usual haunts to poise near the surface, and feed on the 
 flies which have suddenly become plentiful. So long as 
 our perpendicular position was maintained, the fish rose 
 fearlessly all around to our very feet, but the least move- 
 ment had the effect of affrighting all the fish in the im- 
 mediate vicinity. 
 
 But, notwithstanding all this, it must not be forgot- 
 ten that the organ of sight is the most important in 
 their possession, and not only their food supply, but 
 their very existence is dependent upon its proper exer- 
 cise. True it is that constant practice, in a measure, 
 develops their ocular faculties; and as acuteness of vis- 
 ion increases the natural timidity of the trout, so surely 
 does he gradually decline surface feeding, preying upon 
 fry and the smaller yearling fish, as also upon the larva 
 of aquatic insects, etc., thus showing reliance on his 
 greater powers of discernment in his own element. In 
 comparatively clear and still water, the old corpulent 
 denizens of the limpid depths thus exhibit the most pro- 
 voking discretion, defying frequently the rodster's best 
 efforts to allure. 
 
 The superior power of vision the fish has in its own 
 
 *This is certainly a misprint, for we have noted that trout will return, 
 under like circumstances, to their feed, after a lapse of from three to 
 five minutes. 
 
10 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 element* is partly due to the fact that light, like sound, 
 on penetrating water suffers an alteration, both of the 
 rate of progress and the direction of the rays. Kefrac- 
 tion enables the fish to see an approaching or moving 
 object, even when a projecting bank or overhanging rock 
 or other substance intervenes. Mr. Ronalds illustrates 
 this by a familiar scientific experiment with a coin and 
 vessel of water, by which the former, when placed in 
 the bottom of the latter, is seen at an acute angle, when 
 the side of the vessel intercepts a straight line between 
 the coin and the eye of the spectator. ^Ye have known 
 cultivators of domesticated trout, who, being unacquaint- 
 ed with the laws of refraction, have attributed this to 
 various other causes. 
 
 Sense of Hearing. — That trout are not wholly de- 
 void of this sense is now a well established axiom. There 
 is nothing about the exterior of the head of a fresh-water 
 fish that would indicate that it is provided with an ear. 
 Our leading physiologists and anatomists assert, never- 
 theless, that fish and other aquatic creatures have the 
 internal organ in a state of perfection. In animals of 
 higher grade the mechanical apparatus of hearing con- 
 sists of two connected portions, external and internal. 
 Fish appear to have the internal part, which is in direct 
 communication with the brain. The organs of hearing 
 possessed by terrestrial animals are designed for the 
 reception of the more delicate vibrations of the atmos- 
 
 * A few summers ago, when fishing for black bass, using a small gray 
 and black palmer as a point fly, I made a cast at the tail of a shallow 
 reach, just above an old fish weir. The water, for a stretch of at least 
 fifty yards, was not more than two feet deep. As my fly touched the 
 water, a whistle from a fishing chum attracted my attention, and I 
 glanced up stream. At that moment I saw the swirl of a bass thirty 
 feet away, and immediately after the wake, as the fish "struck a bee- 
 line" for ray fly. The pluck was instantaneous aud sure, and in a few 
 moments a two-pounder was creeled. This incident convinced me that 
 the sense of sight in fishes, when exercised in their natural element, Is 
 much greater than that with which they are credited. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 11 
 
 phere, while those of the fish are better adapted to the 
 stronger pulsations of a denser element. Thus, though 
 the inhabitants of the waters are insensible to atmos- 
 pheric sound, they are very susceptible to vibrations of 
 the earth which are communicated to the water, and are 
 undistinguishable by us. 
 
 Who has not observed the terrified agitation of the 
 fish, as far as the eyes can penetrate the water, at the 
 least perceptible vibration caused by the stamp of the 
 foot on the bottom of a punt or boat? We have frequently 
 ourselves seen fish clear the water altogether in ponds and 
 lakes at a distance of forty yards from the point or focus 
 of concussion. That sound is not communicated only by 
 the. external ear may be seen by the following experiment: 
 Take an ordinary tuning fork, strike it, and take the full 
 volume of the sound quite close to the ear, then strike 
 again and place the handle against or between the teeth, 
 when, though at some distance from the ear, the sound 
 will not be found to be diminished. Vibrations vary in 
 intensity according to the degree of solidity and density 
 of the conductive bodies. Thus, we are told that in the 
 atmosphere sound travels at the rate of something like 
 one thousand feet per second on bright, clear days, but 
 eleven hundred in murky, dull and hazy weather. In 
 water, however, sound travels very much quicker, being 
 at the rate of five thousand feet per second, and where 
 wood is the medium quicker still, sixteen thousand feet 
 per second being its rate of progress. If, therefore, a 
 solid substance is the conductor of sound, it naturally 
 follows that the sound will be more distinct. The opera- 
 tor upon the violin has a keener perception of the vari- 
 ous strains of the instrument than the ordinary listener, 
 since wood is the sole conductive body in his case. The 
 organ of hearing being enclosed in the hard case of the 
 head is, in the case of fishes, susceptible therefore to no 
 slight variation of sounds; no noise that does not occa- 
 
12 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 sion a vibration of the element which they inhabit reaches 
 them. Thus the effects of approaching heavy foot-falls 
 will be perceived, when a loud acclamation will have no 
 visible effect on them. A learned doctor of divinity, 
 once known to the writer, used to include in his category 
 of angling requisites a gigantic musical-box, which, for 
 bottom fishing, it was supposed, served the double pur- 
 pose of being a convenient seat and a charming substi- 
 tute for ground bait. So far as the latter object was 
 concerned, the effect was purely imaginary, as, to the 
 impartial mind, results amply testified.* 
 
 We have now dealt Avith the two chief organs possessed 
 by fish, namely, those of sight and hearing, a knowledge 
 of both of which is highly important to the angler. With 
 regard to the senses of taste and smell, we may briefly 
 state that from what we have been able to ascertain they 
 are very slightly developed; that of taste we do not be- 
 lieve is possessed in the faintest degree by the majority 
 of fish.f Roach, grayling, and the smaller species of deli- 
 
 * It is conceded by observant anglers, that fish hear no sound origi- 
 nating in the air ; but step, as lightly as you may, upon the margin of a 
 stream and the fish will scatter like shot from the shallows where they 
 are feeding or frolicking. The larger the fish and the less the depth 
 of water the greater and wilder the scattering will be. Security seems 
 to lie with them in the relative depth of the pools, as the light steps of 
 the angler only disturb them in a foot or two of water. A fish lying in 
 a hole three or four feet deep, close to the banks is not perturbed by 
 any ordinary concussion. 
 
 fin this connection intelligent anglers are apt to query : "Granted 
 that fishes are only slightly, if at all, endowed with the sense of taste or 
 smell, why do trout, black bass and other fish reject the artificial lure if 
 the hook is not instantly fastened in their jaws or throat?" 1 answer : 
 Fresh- water fishes, such as trout, bass, etc., feed as a rule upon soft food. 
 The shell of the Crustacea of our inland lakes and streams is edibly ten- 
 der, and suggests no anomaly to the feel of the tongue or jaw of the 
 fish. Not so with the fatal hook. Its gritty impact with the closing 
 jaw or tongue suggests a foreign subtance. Jt is foul food and as such 
 is instantly rejected. Again, the sheep'shead, drum and other salt- 
 water species, feeding upon clams and muscles, crunching the shells 
 with their massive teeth and strong jaws do not eject the lure ; on the 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF PISH. 13 
 
 cate organism we have found display fastidiousness in 
 this respect, but the mass of voracious fish we believe to 
 be totally devoid of all sense of it. The nostrils are 
 doubtless the medium by which impurities in the water 
 are detected. Certain it is that such impurities are per- 
 ceived, and whenever possible avoided, as is plainly ex- 
 emplified in these days of river pollution. 
 
 Apart from the above causes the movements of fish, 
 both migratory and non-migratory, are generally deter- 
 mined by one of two causes; first, by the search after 
 suitable places for the deposit of their eggs, a certain 
 temperature of water being necessary to vivify them; and 
 secondly by the quest of food. The movements of all 
 animals which feed on living creatures are greatly in- 
 fluenced by the habits of the creatures preyed upon, and 
 fish offer no exception to this rule. We shall now pro- 
 ceed to lay before our readers a comprehensive view of 
 Avhat has taken us well nigh fifty years of patient appli- 
 cation to acquire, namely, the characteristic habits and 
 movements of anadromous and non-migratory fish, a 
 knowledge of which it is incumbent upon every fisher- 
 man to possess. 
 
 The Salmon* — (Salmo solar,) — As is well known, 
 these fish, with other orders of the same family, else- 
 where described, pass a portion of each year in salt water, 
 descending to the sea after they have deposited their 
 spawn on the gravelly beds of the higher portions of 
 rivers. The time of migration varies in different waters; 
 thus we hear of early and late rivers. The spawning 
 
 contrary, to ensure a probable capture, they are permitted by the angler . 
 to move off without restraint until the shell is crunched or the naked 
 bait pouched — a decisive moment— when the strike must be made in 
 stanter. These dsh are accustomed to mouthing hard substances, hence 
 do not "spit out" the hook, if felt, when taking the naked or shell- 
 covered hook. 
 
 * The Salmon (Salmo solar) of Great Britain is similar in its habits, 
 coloration, etc., to the salmon of American Atlantic waters. 
 
14 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 season ranges from March to November. The majority 
 of mature fish ascend and descend at fixed periods, the 
 time chosen generally being during a flood. The early 
 spring floods bring the first and main instalments to the 
 sources of the rivers; but in the event of these failing, 
 the fish often prolong their stay in salt water bays and in 
 the mouths of rivers until the first rising of water will 
 admit of a passage. There are in most salmon rivers 
 numerous weirs so constructed as to render the passage 
 of fish an impossibility, except during a heavy flood. In 
 waters where these artificial obstructions do not exist, 
 migratory fish pass frequently to and fro, these periodic 
 ascents being doubtless occasioned by the quest of food. 
 For a salmon to remain in good condition for a pro- 
 tracted period in fresh water would appear to be an im- 
 possibility. Their ova are vivified and their young 
 flourish in the inland streams, but after attaining a given 
 size their growth stops, and they sicken and die if the 
 passage to salt water is obstructed. The cleansing in- 
 fluence of the marine trip is necessary at least every two 
 years, even when the supply of food in fresh water is am- 
 ple, which is seldom the case. The freshly run fish may 
 be said to be invariably fat, and in the best possible con- 
 dition, not only in the substance of the flesh, but in the 
 large quantities of adipose matter which is found on the 
 pyloric appendages, which secret store serves as an inter- 
 nal source of sustenance, supporting the fish during its 
 summer stay in fresh water, where food is comparatively 
 scarce. 
 
 It is often asserted that anadromous fish will not feed 
 except in salt water, and that their internal fat sustains 
 them when absent from it. This is most certainly 
 erroneous, as migratory fish are not more given to fasting 
 than are any other fresh water species when food is plen- 
 tiful. The young of both grayling and trout suffer 
 greatly from the presence of salmon in the tributaries of 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 15 
 
 our rivers, the former particularly are sought after and 
 taken by them. 
 
 A salmon in its young state is commonly called a parr, 
 smolt, smelt, or samlet. When at this stage they rise 
 boldly at the artificial trout-fly, but it is unlawful to take 
 them. The terms for the young of other migratory fish 
 (Salmonidce) are scad, shed, black-tip, blue-fin, kipper, 
 etc.* When the young of these fish attain a length of 
 about six inches, which they do in from eighteen months 
 to two years from the time of hatching, they descend to 
 the sea, where their stay is, generally speaking, about 
 four months. Upon the first return of the young fish, 
 after a sojourn of about this period, it is commonly 
 termed a grilse or salmon-peal. The term "kelt" is ap- 
 plied to male or female after spawning time, the male 
 being also specially distinguished by the appellation, 
 " kipper." The fish then assume the color and form of 
 the fully developed fish. With regard to the hard and 
 fast rules usually given for their growth and develop- 
 ment, their stay in their native or in salt water, we may 
 state that, great variation exists among individuals liv- 
 ing under the same apparent conditions. The piscicul- 
 turist well knows that a portion of every brood or hatch 
 of fish are larger, stronger, and more vigorous than the 
 remainder, and the same thing is exemplified when the 
 fish attain maturity. We cannot endorse the statements 
 of some who affirm, though they never attempted to 
 prove, that the fry mature so quickly and grow so rapid- 
 ly, when at liberty, as to be able to descend to the sea 
 
 * As a curious illustration of the fecundity of popular nomenclature 
 as applied to fishes, I append a partial list of names by which the salmon 
 is, or has been, known in Great Britain : Baggit, beikat, bluecap, blue 
 poll, brandling, brandlin, chine, cudding, shoe, farthing trout, fransck, 
 fork-tail, gravelin, gibflsh, grilse, gresle-kelt, gouries, half-fish, heppar, 
 kelt, kepper-grisle, kilty, kipper, laspring, lax, lewin, ligger, pink, pug, 
 rawner, salmon-sprint, samlet, sewin, simen, skeggar, skirling, smelt, 
 smoot, sparling, sprag, sprod, summer-cock, trotter, etc. 
 
16 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 within twelve months from the hatching period. Of their 
 rapid growth during the marine trip we have had ample 
 proof; this is perfectly rational, the sea being the feeding 
 ground for the whole family of migratory fish, the abun- 
 dance of small animalcule therein contained forming a 
 never-failing supply to the immigrants. 
 
 In ascending rivers, salmon usually keep near one side 
 of the bottom of the water, but when their tributaries 
 are being ascended, they take the middle of the swiftest 
 streams. When a stream forms the outlet of a lake, or 
 any sheet of water known to be the annual resort of 
 migratory fish, it is of the most vital importance that no 
 obstruction be erected to arrest their passage. There has 
 been a considerable falling off in the takes of salmon 
 during the last twenty years or so. This may be attrib- 
 uted to three combined causes; (first) the erection of 
 weirs and flood gates; (second) river pollution; (third) 
 the depredation of the fungoid growth, termed the salmon 
 disease. 
 
 With regard to the first and second causes here given, 
 we will take the particular case of the Trent. This river 
 was formerly one of the most important for salmon yields 
 in the United Kingdom, and it still ranks next to the 
 Thames for its yields of other fish. The river itself, 
 devoid of tributaries, is of the following extent: In Lin- 
 colnshire, twenty miles; in ^Nottinghamshire, fifty-five 
 miles; in Derbyshire, thirty miles; and in Staffordshire, 
 forty miles. The tributaries take their rise at fifteen 
 hundred to nineteen hundred feet above the sea level, 
 and are pure. They extend as follows: The Dove and 
 Churnet. sixty-three miles; Wye and Derwcnt. sixty-seven 
 miles; the Soar and Wreck (Leicestershire), sixty-five 
 miles, the Idle, forty-five miles; the Blythe and Anker, 
 thirty-five miles; the Terme, twenty-five miles: the 
 Tame, twenty-five miles: the Erewash, Sow (Stafford- 
 shire), and Devon river, each twenty miles. The whole 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 17 
 
 of the above streams, owing to the rapid fall in most 
 cases, and the purity and cool temperature of their 
 waters, were the annual resort of salmon and other 
 migratory fish in immense numbers a few generations 
 back. What do we find to be the case to-day? The 
 salmon are debarred from ascending even the main river, 
 except during heavy floods, by senselessly contrived weirs 
 at different points, and with the same exception, the pas- 
 sage up the Derwent is entirely shut off by weirs below 
 Derby. In respect to the Dove, being swift and of ex- 
 cessively rapid fall, it was originally the favorite resort of 
 Trent salmon, many of which would ascend as high as 
 Dovedale. There are some four or five weirs that are 
 rendered passable only Avhen the river is bank-full, after 
 a very heavy shoot of water from the hills, until Eocester 
 is reached, where there is situated a weir that is impass- 
 able at all times from its peculiar construction. All this 
 may seem strange to those of our readers who have been 
 led to imagine that the natural buoyancy and strength of 
 anadromous fish enable them to overcome both ordinary 
 and extraordinary difficulties in the way of impediments 
 to their upward course. It is, nevertheless, the fact that 
 salmon are to be annually seen for weeks and even months 
 vainly trying to ascend an obstruction, known to be an 
 effectual bar to their upward progress, until finally they 
 deposit their spawn at the point where the passage is ar- 
 rested, whether suitable or not. Salmon leap to a great 
 height to surmount a cascade or perpendicular fall, but 
 the long slanting weirs are not to be stemmed when they 
 exceed a given length and angle. 
 
 But to return. The Tame is now polluted to such an 
 extent that even pike fail of late to flourish in it. The 
 main river, too, is now also polluted so as to admit only 
 of the presence of fresh run migratory fish when flooded 
 by its tributaries. Thus, out of five hundred and seventy- 
 five miles of water only a very few can be accessible to the 
 
18 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 salmon as spawning ground. It will, therefore, be seen 
 that, taking the noble Trent as a type, salmon in English 
 waters, unless more urgently looked to by the district 
 conservators and other responsible bodies, will soon be a 
 thing of the past. . 
 
 The fungoid disease, named as the third cause of the 
 falling off of the product of salmon in our largest and 
 most important rivers, is most disastrous in its results, 
 and when it attacks the fish in the spring or early sum- 
 mer months its depredations are great. Owing to the 
 circumstance of its being unknown to salt water, the 
 gradual growth of fungus over the fish is speedily ar- 
 rested, and finally cleansed away when the fish leave the 
 rivers. This fungoid growth, so detrimental to the well- 
 being and life of fish, has been termed the salmon disease, 
 which is anything but a correct appellation, seeing that 
 its deadly effects are often even more marked in the case 
 of trout and other fish. This disease is a choleraic dis- 
 order, and we are told owes its immediate origin to ani- 
 mal or vegetable substances, one or both, in a state of 
 poisonous decomposition in the water. Effectual reme- 
 dies there would appear to be none. The only safe and 
 efficient remedial course would appear to be to avoid 
 river pollution, and thus purify instead of putrify water 
 containing fish. Occasionally, however, this deadly dis- 
 order is found to be rife in waters that cannot have been 
 polluted by any of the numerous impurities to which the 
 waters of populated districts are exposed, and in these 
 instances it may be assumed that the presence of decay- 
 ing vegetable substances is owing to protracted unhealthy 
 weather. 
 
 Salmon frecpient only the northern and temperate 
 parts of the earth. It is a noteworthy fact that the in- 
 habitants of the more southern latitudes, when mature, 
 are much inferior, both as regards size and gameness of 
 disposition — this at least in the eastern hemisphere — 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 19 
 
 to those of colder regions. In Norway these fish are 
 capable of attaining a prodigious size and weight, eighty 
 to ninety pounds occasionally, whilst in the waters of 
 Britain, the adult fish very rarely attain to one half that 
 weight. 
 
 The Common Teotjt* — (Salmo fario). — For variety 
 of size, color, and disposition, the brown or common trout 
 may be said to eclipse all other species. Every loch and 
 river, and almost every tributary, has its variety. The 
 geological formation of the bed of the river, the aquatic 
 vegetation, and the quality and description of the food 
 obtained by the fish, have much to do with this varia- 
 tion. No fish can be said to be so widely distributed, or 
 so capable of affording more variety of sport, from the 
 lordly Thames fish to the game little denizens of the 
 Devon streams. Trout will flourish in almost all waters 
 capable of sustaining fish, but their chosen resorts are 
 rapid, clear mountain streams, the jostling waters of 
 which, foaming amidst fragments of rock, whirling and 
 surging in their rapid course, form numerous cascades 
 and caverned banks. Such are the favorite haunts of 
 the trout. The merest rill of clear and rapid water will 
 often contain vast quantities of these fish, when from its 
 appearance it would be deemed incapable of sustaining a 
 single fin. Under shelving banks and submerged sub- 
 stances, amongst roots of trees bordering the banks of 
 
 * The common brown trout of English waters is described by Ronalds 
 as follows : " The back fin has a pale brown color, with dark spots upon 
 it ; the other fins, including the tail, have a red tint. The color of the 
 back, when in perfect condition, is usually a dark olive-green, studded 
 with a mixture of black and brownish spots. The sides are shaded off 
 from the olive to a greenish-yellow, studded with red spots, the black 
 spots gradually vanishing. Lower down the yellow tint approaches a 
 salmon color, and the belly is nearly white, without any spots." It 
 will be seen at once that the English congener of our own brook trout 
 wears quite a sober livery in comparison with that of the American 
 mountain beauty ; their habits, however, are closely allied to those of 
 our native fish. 
 
20 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 the streams, trout secrete themselves when not feeding. 
 A casual observer, after a careful and prolonged inspec- 
 tion along its banks, may often affirm that a length 
 upon a noted trout stream is wholly devoid of fish, 
 when the subsequent appearance of surface food will 
 prove the water to be alive with them, and they may as 
 suddenly disappear when the insects leave the water's 
 surface to secrete themselves before an impending atmos- 
 pheric change. In some districts trout spawn in winter, 
 in others in October and November, or in December, 
 and elsewhere in January and in February, or in March. 
 The precise time depends also in a measure on the pre- 
 vailing state of the weather and water. In the close 
 season, trout leave the larger streams, ascending the 
 brooks and rivulets, in the gravelly bottoms of which 
 they deposit their spawn. When this operation is ef- 
 fected, they disperse to their wonted haunts, the tails of 
 currents, lying for the most part above and below pools 
 and slow running deeps, behind any impediment to the 
 running water, such as thick piles and sunken timber. 
 As they get into condition they move to stronger water, 
 occasionally for this purpose ascending brooks whose 
 waters may be turbulent and strong to their very source. 
 Here they linger by the edges of streams that flow into 
 the throats of the pools, and at this period rise boldly 
 and unsuspectingly for a time, and can then be allured 
 by the novice in a comparatively easy manner. After 
 the lapse of a few short weeks, as the water and weather 
 become clearer and brighter, the trout grow cautious, 
 where heavily fished over, they having now entirely re- 
 covered their customary vigor, and with it their beauty 
 of form and color. They now take up their old posi- 
 tions, vacated prior to the commencement of the spawn- 
 ing season. These are chosen as vantage ground for 
 food, the largest fish occupying the best feeding ground; 
 and when one of these has been extracted, the next best 
 
THE HABITS AN"D HAUNTS OF FISH. 21 
 
 fish in the immediate vicinity takes possession of the 
 vacated post. These fish will often fight desperately for 
 a favorable situation, hence it is that the larger tenants oc- 
 cupy the best positions. Near circulating eddies, behind 
 large stones, in side and mid-stream, below jutting por- 
 tions of banks, etc., ever near the main volume of water, 
 and the perpetuated line of bubbles wherever it may 
 tend, the trout lie assiduously observant of passing ob- 
 jects, whether in or on the top of the water. 
 
 When a quantity of flies are "up" in rapid water, the 
 fish poise themselves near the surface, the more readily 
 to close upon their winged prey; but, upon the other 
 hand, when no surface food is presented to their view, 
 they are quick to seize adventurous fry of their own or 
 any other species, without distinction. In the latter 
 half of May their attention is generally attracted and 
 absorbed by the then active grub or pupa of the May- 
 fly or drake; and as these nymphse are, generally speak- 
 ing, numerous in the waters frequented by trout, the fish 
 are seldom found rising at this particular period. In 
 about a week or ten days from the first signs of activity, 
 the pupas referred to vacate their cases and rise to the 
 water's surface, when, after emerging from yet another 
 skin, they appear in their sub-imago state as green drakes. 
 The fish, not comprehending the change, continue to 
 feed upon the undeveloped worm for a few days, until 
 the now profusely laden surface allures them from the 
 river's bed, and monopolizes their whole attention during 
 the stay of the May-fly, which usually continues from 
 seventeen to twenty days. By the time the season of the 
 drake terminates, the fish have so regaled themselves 
 upon this lusty ephemeral, that for a week or so they 
 find it incumbent upon them to retire to the deep still 
 water, to doze off the effect of the excess. After this 
 they again resort to their accustomed posts, which are 
 not forsaken until the spawning season again comes 
 
22 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 around, except when forced to retreat in the face of what 
 in Highland phraseology is called a heavy "spate," 
 when, particularly in hilly districts, the water rises and 
 the stream becomes "bank- full,''* to overflow in a few 
 hours. Then not only is the force of the current too 
 strong, but the water is generally too thick in mid-current 
 to admit of the movement of the fish. In these circum- 
 stances the quiet corners and side eddies, no matter if 
 quite out of the usual water-course, are the resort not only 
 of trout, but of all other species that may inhabit the 
 water. The whole congregate in places of comparative 
 safety when danger threatens, the minnows with the 
 trout, the pike with the gudgeon. When trout reach a 
 more than ordinary size, they disdain surface food. At 
 twilight, and even later in the hot months, however, 
 they will rise at the large moths, but are not to be allured 
 to the surface by small flies. When over two pounds 
 weight, their flesh assumes a beautiful red tint, not nnlike 
 that of a well-conditioned salmon, but when they much 
 exceed that weight, they do incalculable harm to the 
 water they inhabit by greedily devouring the small half- 
 grown fish. Trout occasionally attain a prodigious size, 
 five and six pounds being not altogether uncommon. 
 But although a trout may reach this weight, he does not 
 long retain it, for within a comparatively brief period 
 all the store fish within a hundred yards of his haunt 
 will have disappeared, and the cannibal who has thus 
 depopulated it will diminish quickly in flesh, showing a 
 gaunt head and rakish-looking frame as the result of 
 the scarcity of food; for, strange a? it may appear, the 
 veteran trout seldom forsakes his chosen haunt, even to 
 appease hunger's keen pangs. Fish of this description 
 should be destroyed. At twilight they will frequently 
 rise boldly at the minnow. At mid-day it is of little 
 use angling for them, as the tackle must then necessarily 
 be fine to get them to face it; and when this is the case, 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 23 
 
 it is unequal to the task of holding them when hooked. 
 In large rivers the existence of hybrids in certain of the 
 first sub-genus group of Salmonidm is by no means in- 
 frequent, the non-migratory fish interbreeding with the 
 migratory, producing tidal or slod trout, and other varie- 
 ties, which occasionally attain considerable dimensions. 
 The common trout, in certain waters, sometimes attains 
 a large size, notably in the Irish lochs, those of Loch 
 Neagh frequently scaling eighteen to twenty pounds. 
 Thames fish are occasionally taken weighing in the teens 
 of pounds, but such captures are few, and we regret to 
 have to add, are becoming yearly more infrequent, not- 
 withstanding the instalments from High Wycombe and 
 other sources. Kingston, Shepperton, and Chertsey 
 were years ago the best localities for these fish, and, 
 therefore, the chief resorts of the anglers. More re- 
 cently, Sunbury, Weybridge, Maidenhead, and Marlow 
 Weir have become the favorite places. 
 
 The Gtllakoo* Trout of Ireland is another large 
 variety. In their native lakes they attain frequently four 
 or five pounds weight, but when introduced into other 
 waters they often much exceed that weight. This variety 
 affords much excellent sport when hooked, even when 
 small. It is scarcely advisable, however, to introduce this 
 large variety into ordinary trout streams, as the effects in 
 all probability would be similar to those following the 
 introduction of bass in the American trout rivers, the 
 original stock gradually disappearing.! Large fish in- 
 
 * So-callsd from the structural arrangements of the stomach, which is 
 usually as large as a chicken's, in formation resembling the gizzard of 
 the bird known as th? gillaroo. 
 
 t In view of the present desire of many English rodsters, including the 
 editor of the " Fishing Gazette," to introduce the black bass into the 
 streams of England, it would be well for them to take heed of the fact 
 stated in the text. This fish will destroy the " coarse fish," particularly 
 the Cyprinidce of any stream or lake. It kills from the love of killing 
 and, pound for pound, is the sturdiest fighter that sculls the waters. 
 
24 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 variably require an enormous amount of food to enable 
 them to grow and flourish, and should never be intro- 
 duced into water which will not afford the necessary- 
 supply. 
 
 Chare and Pollen — (Coregonus.)* Both these fish 
 are extremely local. The first named are found in large 
 lakes, the deepest part of which they frequent. Like 
 trout, they vary in different waters, chiefly however in 
 color, which is often most brilliant when they have been 
 freshly taken, the fiery red breast being then marvellously 
 vivid. The torgock, or "Welsh charr, is perhaps the most 
 conspicuously colored. It is found in Llanberis and other 
 lakes in the north of Wales. It is smaller than those of 
 Windermere and other northern lakes, its average length 
 being thirteen to fifteen inches. The charr is strictly a 
 northern fish, and flourishes much better in lakes fed by 
 underground springs at some elevation than in shallow 
 and low-lying waters. The lakes and lochs chiefly noted 
 for these fish in England, Ireland, and Scotland, are 
 Windermere, Ennerdale, Buttermere, Wast- Water, in the 
 north of England; Lough Enniskillin, Lough Eske, 
 Lough Dan, Lough Melvin, Lough Killin, and dorr in 
 Ireland; Lochs Grannoch, Eoy, and Awe, in Scotland; 
 and Lake Helier in Hoy, in the Orkneys. From their 
 habit of seeking the seclusion of the very deepest water 
 during the greater part of the year, they are seldom taken 
 by the sportsman, although bold risers at the fly. Occa- 
 sionally they are excessively shy, and are not to be ap- 
 proached within a considerable distance when surface 
 feeding. The contents of their stomachs when taken 
 generally consist of aquatic and aerial insects, and the 
 
 *The trout is now relegated to the salvelinm or ebarr species of the 
 salmonoids, to which the Rangely Lake trout, the California mountain 
 trout and our common speckled brook trout belong. The charm, how- 
 ever, differ greatly in coloration from the American varieties, but few 
 having spots, which, when present, are of a dull reddish orange color. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OP FISH. 25 
 
 small fish known as the stickleback, which latter forms 
 their principal food. This fact failed to attract our notice 
 until the year 1862, when we were fishing upon the Awe, 
 in Argyleshire, at different periods during a visit of four 
 months. We had observed a succession of bubbles ap- 
 pearing upon the water's surface for an instant, and hav- 
 ing never succeeded in raising a fish in immediate prox- 
 imity, we concluded that they were caused by an escape 
 of gas or air from the bottom of the water. After a while 
 there came a day when the momentary bubbles were ex- 
 ceptionally numerous, though they never occurred near 
 the boat. This circumstance did not escape us, and we 
 put up a cast of brown trout flies, in lieu of the larger 
 salmon fly we had previously been using, and these we 
 succeeded in casting in the midst of a rising of bubbles, 
 and this time not in vain, for tha next instant we not 
 only had a rise but a hooked fish, which eventually proved 
 to be a charr of the northern species, and was found to 
 be gorged with small sticklebacks. Subsequent experience 
 proved that the eruption referred to was simply a shoal 
 of these tiny fish clearing the water in their frantic and 
 futile endeavors to elude their enemies. The fish here 
 spoken of was sent to the proprietor, Colin Campbell, 
 Esq. , of Loch Nell, as we were informed that the exist- 
 ence of charr in the loch was unknown and unsuspected. 
 We were afterwards assured by the proprietor, who wish- 
 ed to know the precise fly that had allured the specimen 
 forwarded, that such was the case. Since then, charr 
 have been regularly taken in their proper season. Charr 
 come into shallow waters to spawn during the autumn, 
 often running into the lake feeders to perform this oper- 
 ation, when nets are illegally used for their destruction. 
 Charr are classed with trout under the new Fresh Water 
 Fishery Acts, and the close time is therefore the same. 
 The Pollen, or Powan", are confined to the Irish lakes, 
 Lough Neagh being especially noted for these fish; Lough 
 2 
 
26 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 Erne, and Lough Lomond, too, are stocked with them. 
 They feed, like the charr, upon the fly and other aquatic 
 insects, etc. The prevailing color is silvery gray, the 
 head and back being bluish brown. They spawn in De- 
 cember and January, and afford good sport during the 
 genial months to the angler. 
 
 The Grayling — {Thymallus vulgaris.)* — This is a 
 much more fastidious and delicate fish than the trout; 
 and, although it abounds to profusion in some streams, 
 yet it is very local when compared with the trout. Both 
 Scotland (including the Tweed, Clyde, and the Orkneys) 
 and Ireland are graylingless; neither do they occur in 
 Wales, except in the border streams. They require a 
 peculiar combination of favorable surroundings to enable 
 them to flourish and locate permanently, when introduced 
 into strange streams. A moderate temperature of water 
 is requisite for their well-being, and a succession of stream 
 and still deeps. They generally frequent the lower por- 
 tions of trout streams in hilly districts; a fair volume of 
 water, too, is essential, as, when there flows less than two 
 tons or thereabouts per minute, grayling descend to a 
 lower point, where their needs in this respect are satisfied. 
 The bottoms of our best grayling rivers usually consist of 
 an alternate mixture of loam, marl, sand, and gravel. 
 The brown trout, in his habits of migration, penetrates 
 still further up stream to more rapid water. The gray- 
 ling, on the other hand, more generally descends to sloAver 
 
 * Tlie coloration of the English grayling consists of a general tint of 
 light blue silvery gray, covering nearly the whole surface of the body, 
 excepting the belly, which is white, or nearly bo, and the scales often 
 exhibit iridescent lines of great beauty. The buck and head are of darker 
 gray than the rest of the body. A few lines of brown are intermixed 
 with the gray of the sides, at d a few black spots appear on the shoulder. 
 The back fin has a purplish tint, studded with large black spots. The 
 tail is of a slate color. The English fish I judge to be somewhat stouter 
 than the American I Thyma&v* tricolor), and is certainly far inferior to it 
 in beauty of coloration. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 27 
 
 running waters; still, there is little doubt that this fish. 
 would thrive in many waters in which it is at present un- 
 known. Grayling are, to a certain extent, gregarious, 
 generally frequenting the stills, even when surface feed- 
 ing. It is owing to this fact that they are given to rise 
 nearer the rodster than the trout, ascending often from 
 the deepest part of the river to seize a passing insect. 
 Although, when top food is plentiful, these fish rise 
 boldly and continuously, they, especially when the water 
 is slightly discolored, are very partial to the larvae of 
 water-flies, wasps, maggots, cabbage grubs, etc., as they 
 are also to any imitation of these. 
 
 Grayling grow rapidly in comparison with other Sal- 
 monidce, the young attaining several inches in size in a 
 very few months. They spawn usually in April and May. 
 By October or November, the fry are little larger than a 
 minnow, and are then termed "pink" grayling. The 
 summer following they average four to the pound, and 
 are then known as " shote " fish. About two years from 
 the time of hatching they attain about half a pound, by 
 which time the ova is matured, but not before. The half- 
 pound fish takes the name of grayling. The fish is in 
 the very zenith of health and vigor from October to Jan- 
 uary. When in perfect condition they are almost black 
 upon the back, which contrasts prettily with the silver- 
 gray and pure white of the bosom. The pectoral fin, 
 which is immensely large in this variety of Salmonidce, is 
 faintly tipped with a ruddy hue. In reference to the 
 habits of the grayling much diversity exists iu current 
 literature bearing upon this subject, as the following brief 
 quotations will show: — 
 
 "Grayling are found in "I have proved that 
 the North Sea, Cattegat, grayling will not bear even 
 and Baltic." — Nilsson. a brackish water without 
 
 dying." — Davy. 
 
28 
 
 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 "Early m spring gray- 
 ling ascend the rivers, 
 where they remain till 
 autumn, and then return 
 to their former element." 
 — Donavon. 
 
 "He is a fish that lurks 
 very close all the winter, 
 but is very pleasant and 
 jolly after mid-April, in the 
 hot months." — Walton. 
 
 "They delight in rivers 
 that glide through moun- 
 tainous places, and are met 
 with in the clearest and 
 swiftest of those streams." 
 — Mackintosh. 
 
 "The grayling is the 
 deadest-hearted fish in the 
 world. " — Cotton. 
 
 " The grayling passes its 
 time entirely in fresh water, 
 and I cannot understand 
 how Donavon — whose fig- 
 ure, bad as it is, shows it- 
 self to be this fish — says it is 
 migratory. " — Ha ughton. 
 
 "Grayling are best in 
 season in autumn and win- 
 ter; indeed, they should 
 not be taken till August, 
 and all caught before that 
 period should be returned." 
 — Francis. 
 
 " They cannot stem rapid 
 streams, and are gradually 
 carried lower and lower, 
 and at last disappear." — 
 Shipley and Fitzgibbon. 
 
 "The grayling is an ex- 
 cellent fish for sport." — 
 Ronalds. 
 
 The juxtaposition of these extracts shows how many 
 inaccuracies and fallacies are diffused by those who pro- 
 fess to be the teachers of truth. 
 
 The quotations to the right are accurate in detail, as 
 grayling fishers of experience will concede. The annual 
 movements of these fish occur in much the same way as 
 those of the trout, with the exception of the one being 
 in condition in the cold season and the other in the most 
 genial part of the year. In the spawning season (April 
 and May) they repair to the broad shallows, where the 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 29 
 
 water-course widens, and the gravelly bottom is plainly 
 apparent. Here they lie in shoals, and, before the na- 
 tional law prohibited the practice, sacrilegious work was 
 often perpetrated with the net by the poaching fraternity, 
 who, unfortunately, are much better acquainted with the 
 habits of their quarry then is generally credited. After 
 their sexual functions have been in due course accom- 
 plished, they seek the best feeding positions vacant, near 
 the sides and at the tails of sharp streams, where they lie 
 at the bottom, ever on the look-out for what the stream 
 may bring down, such as the larvae of the several orders 
 of large water flies and other aquatic insects — the water- 
 spider and freshwater shrimps (Ganmarus aquaticus). 
 The grayling, though a delicately organized fish, never- 
 theless possesses a strong stomach, superior to that of the 
 trout, which enables it to digest insects inhabiting shell- 
 like cases, and other molluscous food. After their health 
 has been somewhat restored by a short location here, the 
 approach of the hot months drives them to the seclusion 
 of the deepest water, near the bottom of which they lie, 
 where the heat is less felt. We believe this to be the 
 main secret as to the suitable water and locality for these 
 fish, as in these days of artificial propagation and experi- 
 mental ventures in the transportation of fish, it has been 
 often observed that when the water is not adapted for the 
 peculiarities of this fish, they have invariably descended 
 at the approach of warm weather, never to re-ascend. 
 There are many waters that do not at present contain 
 grayling, that are perfectly adapted to their peculiarities. 
 Streams having lime spring sources are found to be par- 
 ticularly suited to these delicate fish. In the Canadian 
 lakes the trout lie, whenever the weather is oppressive, 
 in masses near the cool springs, especially when these are 
 situated at the bottom of the water. Grayling in this 
 country are found to flourish in similar situations, but in 
 more genial climes they cannot be preserved, being a 
 
30 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 northern fish. In early autumn they leave the still 
 deeps and congregate upon the lower running streams, 
 where the water is from three to four feet deep. Here, 
 in the wake of piles encumbered with sticks, etc., they 
 sport m company, and are to be allured by fancy artifi- 
 cials, even when there are no flies on the water. At this 
 period they afford really excellent sport when fished for 
 by the sunk fly, as well as by the other methods of ang- 
 ling for them, described elsewhere. As the year advances, 
 the vitality and vigor of the grayling increases, and by 
 the time the sharp frosts of winter set in, whenever the 
 water is in fit condition, they afford exceptionally good 
 sport. Grayling often attain a large size; they are fre- 
 quently taken from two to four pounds in the rivers most 
 noted for them, which are as follows: the Avon, Itchen, 
 and Test, in Hampshire; the Dove, Wye, and Derwent, 
 in the Midlands; the Aire and Swale, m Yorkshire; and 
 the Lugg and Teme. This fish has recently been 
 turned into the Clyde and Tweed, where it appears to 
 flourish. 
 
 Pike* frequent the more shallow portions of the water 
 when they are in cpiest of food, as also for spawning pur- 
 poses. The smaller fish naturally throng to the thinner 
 waters for better security, and the larger fish of prey lurk 
 in their vicinity, as the vicious dog-fish do near the her- 
 ring shoals, upon the shelving strand. Pike also love to 
 be concealed in weed beds, amongst the friendly shades 
 of water plants, from which they pounce upon their un- 
 suspecting prey. In rivers and running water, like trout, 
 they generally take up an advantageous position before a 
 jutting portion of the river's bank, or in a (lee}) curl of 
 water at a sudden bend. These places are favorite haunts, 
 and are sure to be tenanted by either large or small fish. 
 
 * The pike (Esoz luciut) of England is identical with the true pike of 
 America. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 31 
 
 Both in winter and summer the pike is a solitary and un- 
 social fish. They spawn in the spring, April and May 
 being the usual months, but the spawning period varies 
 with the locality to a certain extent. As pairing time 
 approaches they repair to creeks, side-ditches, back- 
 waters, etc., and in the case of lakes and ponds to the 
 seclusion afforded by weed and reed beds. In the fall of 
 the year the wanderers congregate in a social sort of way, 
 in the still and deepest parts of the water, or in some 
 favorite nook which may have been an annual place of 
 assembly since it was originally formed. The ova of the 
 pike hatch quickly, thirty-two or thirty-three days being 
 the period. Their fry are also of rapid growth. In the 
 pickerel or jack stage they devour enormous quantities of 
 food, if favorable. At a very early stage their vicious pro- 
 pensities are exemplified. We once placed three pickerel, 
 scaling from two to three and a half pounds, in a small 
 pond, in which had been turned some fourscore store 
 fish, the majority being carp of small size, the remainder 
 tench and perch. Upon being netted at the end of the 
 year, there was not a single carp in the pond; two-thirds 
 of the perch were left, as were also a few of the tench. 
 The pickerel had meanwhile developed into respectable 
 pike, scaling five and three-quarters to six and one-quarter 
 pounds weight. Belief in the ancient doggerel, anent 
 the natural propagation of pike, eels, and other fish, 
 from the pickerel weed, chopped-hair, etc., it is said is 
 not as yet fully dispelled amongst the lower agricul- 
 tural orders in some parts of Scotland, and in several 
 English counties. 
 
 Walton, who invariably quotes the German naturalist, 
 Gesner, upon the natural history of fresh-water fish, in- 
 stead of relying solely upon his own personal investiga- 
 tions, affirms his belief in these and kindred superstitions, 
 characteristic of our forefathers. The same absurd non- 
 
32 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 sense is credited in the " Piscatory Eulogies," where we 
 find the following: 
 
 " Say, canst thou tell how worms of moisture breed, 
 Or pike are gendered of the pickrel weed ? 
 How carp without the parent seed renew, 
 Or slimj' eeis are form'd of genial dew ?" 
 
 To indulge in day-dreams about the abnormal instincts 
 and habits of animalia, would appear to be characteristic 
 of the speculative naturalist of past ages, vague theories 
 being treated as solid facts, and so set forth for the ac- 
 ceptance of credulous readers. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH 
 
 THE BARBEL, CARP, TENCH, BREAM, ROACH, DACE, GUDGEON, 
 CHUB, EEL, POPE OR RUFFE. 
 
 The Barbel* (Barhus vulgaris) is a gregarious fish. 
 It spawns in May and the beginning of June, and is 
 found in the sluggish parts of slow-running streams. It 
 not unfrequently attains a weight of ten or twelve pounds, 
 and specimens are occasionally taken measuring three 
 feet in length. Its fins, especially the pectoral, are ex- 
 ceptionally large, and by their aid it can hreast the 
 most powerful currents, and is, moreover, capable of af- 
 fording good sport to the angler, owing to its excessive 
 pertinacity of life and strength. The Thame? and Trent 
 are the best rivers for this fish. It is rather local in this 
 country, but is occasionally found abundant in the waters 
 of low-lying counties. Large barbel are most prevalent 
 about Shepperton. Walton, and Weybridge upon the 
 Thames, where they have been taken scaling fifteen or 
 
 * The barbel is not a native of our waters. 
 
THE HABITS AISTD HAUNTS OF FISH. 33 
 
 sixteen pounds or more. Tliey abound in the Trent for 
 many miles about and below Nottingham. During the 
 hot months, after spawning (which operation is effected 
 amongst weeds, roots, etc., around which substances they 
 entwine the ova in a rope-like form) they seek deep slow- 
 running streams, near the bottom of which they lie. A 
 cold climate does not appear to suit the barbel. In more 
 southern latitudes, as in the Danube and the Rhine, it is 
 said to occasionally reach fifty or even sixty pounds. In 
 Scotland this fish does not appear at all. With the ad- 
 vent of frosty weather in the fall, they leave the still 
 dee]3s and holes, and may be found at the bends of rivers, 
 near bridges, flood-gates, locks, and weirs, which form 
 their haunts during the winter season. Here they are 
 often taken, in favorable circumstances, in heavy quanti- 
 ties by practical adepts. The mouth of the barbel is 
 situate much lower than is the case with most fish. It is 
 a flat- stomached fish, with a hog-shaped head and snout. 
 The fore-barbs, or wattles, attached to the end of the lat- 
 ter, and appended to the comers of the mouth, are plen- 
 tifully encompassed by nerves, which serve as feelers to 
 the fish whilst foraging amongst gravel, etc., in the bed 
 of the water. It belongs to the carp family, and is noted 
 for its subtlety and wiliness. Barbel are in the best con- 
 dition in August and September. 
 
 Caep {Ciprinus carpio)* do not thrive in northern 
 latitudes; like the barbel, they attain much greater di- 
 mensions in temperate and southern climes. It is sup- 
 posed by some that the whole carp family are not indige- 
 nous to this country, which may be very probable; but 
 nothing is certainly known of the period or source of 
 their original introduction. The naturalist Linnaeus 
 affirms that carp were first brought to England about the 
 year 1600, but this assuredly is erroneous, as in Dame 
 
 * This variety or scaled species has been introduced in our waters. 
 
34 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 Juliana Bemer's book on angling, published in 1496, we 
 have the following mention of the carp: "It is a dayn- 
 tious fysshe, but there bene but faue in Englond, and 
 thereforce I wryte the lesse of hym." 
 
 The carp is a vegetarian, feeding upon the more tender 
 parts of aquatic plants, and the growth of alga? and fun- 
 gus with which aquatic vegetation is often overspread. 
 Insects and larvae also are taken by them. Where carp 
 run large they are anything but "dayntious," as any 
 vegetable garbage and refuse will be eagerly and voraci- 
 ously devoured by them when cast within their reach. 
 
 In the winter season carp lie partially buried in the 
 mud at the bottom of the lakes and ponds in which they 
 delight. Their ova becomes matured about June; they 
 deposit their spawn upon weeds, etc. These fish have 
 the curious habit of emitting but a small part of their 
 eggs at once; thus they are taken for some months con- 
 taining more or less mature spawn, the male fish having 
 a similar characteristic. The carp, like most leather- 
 mouthed fish, have teeth in the throat — these, in the in- 
 stance of the common carp very much resemble the molar 
 teeth of a quadruped. They are very long-lived, and 
 many remarkable instances of this are recorded. There 
 are many varieties of these fish now common in this 
 country. The Crucian and Prussian variety are abun- 
 dant in many waters. These are much shorter and more 
 plate-like in form than the ordinary carp. 
 
 Tench* {Tinea vulgaris), like carp, flourish best in 
 weedy ponds or deep pits, and though in very sluggish 
 rivers they may take up their quarters upon some quiet 
 reach, they are seldom found abundant in these situa- 
 tions. In the winter months these fish lie dormant in 
 the mud at the bottom of the water, as we have already 
 
 * So far as I am aware, we have no fish on this side of the Atlantic 
 corresponding to the tench, of which in fact but one species is known 
 to exist. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 35 
 
 stated to be the case with the carp; indeed, their main 
 habits and instincts correspond closely with those just 
 ascribed to the carp. The chief points of distinction are 
 that the tench possesses greater powers of suction, is con- 
 ' siderably less in size (seldom attaining more than six or 
 seven pounds in our home waters), and is inferior in cun- 
 ning. The body of the tench is abundantly supplied 
 with mucous, which is generally supposed to have medic- 
 inal properties. This would be difficult to prove, and 
 we very much doubt whether it ever has been satisfac- 
 torily established. Both carp and tench are eminently 
 tenacious of life, and able to breathe with the most 
 meagre supply of oxygen. The young of both fish are 
 also of marvellously quick growth, where food is plenti- 
 ful, and the surroundings are favorable to their well- 
 being. The golden variety of tench, now acclimatized 
 here, is being artificially bred and distributed upon an 
 extensive scale. 
 
 Bkeam* (Abramis brama) abound to profusion in many 
 of our lakes, rivers, and canals, as also in small confined 
 sheets of water throughout the land. There are two 
 principal British varieties of these fish, viz., the common 
 or carp bream, and the white bream, or breamflat. There 
 are numerous hybrids among bream, as, indeed, is the 
 case with the whole carp tribe. These are occasionally 
 taken for new varieties, and new species. In early morn- 
 ing, with the first gleam of the sun in the east, the 
 
 * The reader must not confound the English bream with our sunfish, 
 which is called in many sections of the United States, a bream. The 
 bream of the text belongs to the carp family, and the sunfish to the 
 perehes. We have two well recognized varieties (both carps) of the 
 bream in this country ; the Notemigonus chrysoleucus, commonly called 
 shiner, the habitat of which is from New England to Minnesota ; the N. 
 Americanus, or Southern bream, ranging from Virginia to Georgia. Both 
 of these fish are similar in their habits to the English varieties, loving 
 weedy streams and ponds. The former, N. chrysoleucus, resembles a 
 shad and grows to a weight of a pound and a half. The saltwater por- 
 gee is sometimes called a bream in the Southern States. 
 
36 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEE. 
 
 bream, in common with most fish of like order, are to 
 be observed playfully gambolling and turning over, so 
 that their most frequent haunts are easily discernible 
 to the early riser. When a bream suddenly descends 
 from near the surface of the water, unlike any other 
 fish, it causes bubbles to appear upon the water im- 
 mediately above it. This must be owing to its peculiar 
 formation. It probably emits a certain portion of oxygen 
 by the exertion. The teeth of the bream, as with other 
 aquatic vegetarians, are in the throat, there being, in 
 the case of the common bream, a series of five upon 
 each bone, a double complement of these being possessed 
 by the white variety. Bream spawn in July. They 
 always frequent the deepest parts of the water they in- 
 habit, and are fond of weedy quarters. About the mid- 
 dle of October they are in the hight of condition. It 
 is not in every likely-looking place upon a river known 
 to contain bream that they are found. They are rather 
 migratory as well as gregarious, and are given to roam, 
 changing their haunts, for no apparent reason, for an 
 indefinite period. These fish seldom attain more than 
 six or seven pounds weight, though specimens are oc- 
 casionally taken scaling considerably more. 
 
 Eoach* (Leuciscus rutilus), are also gregarious, con- 
 gregating and swimming together in shoals. They are 
 generally numerous at the lower portions of trout streams, 
 in water from three to five feet in depth, and of very 
 moderate velocity. They feed upon aquatic insects, 
 worms, the larva3 of flies, and also on certain vegetable 
 
 * The names, Roach, Dace, and Chub are inextricably mixed in the 
 popular nomenclature of fishes in this country. All of them are applied 
 indiscriminately to one and the same fish. 1 am enabled, however, to 
 state from personal knowledge tliat the roach of the Atlantic States ia 
 almost a counterpart of its English congener, in physical outline, at 
 least so far as may be judged by examinations of several exquisite and 
 accurate drawings of the latter fish. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF PISH. 37 
 
 matter. These fish spawn in May and the early part of June. 
 When thus ill-conditioned they are particularly rough to 
 the touch. Their ova is deposited amongst the roots of 
 weeds or upon some projecting or submerged substance 
 there may be in the bottom of the water. The length 
 of a full-sized, well-conditioned roach ranges from ten 
 to twelve inches; but, being a broad and thick-set fish, 
 the weight is greater than its length would indicate. 
 Upon some waters, a fish of this description, measuring 
 ten inches, will generally scale about three-quarters of a 
 pound. They are of marvellously slow growth, as com- 
 pared with other fish of the same order. The roach is 
 not esteemed as an article of diet. 
 
 Dace, Dare, or Dart. * — These fish are gregarious, 
 and are common in our clear streams, especially in the 
 south. They frequent slow running waters, where they 
 feed upon the larvae of insects, worms, etc., and towards 
 September rise well at the fly, and are to be readily taken. 
 There are other species of what are designated coarse fish 
 that rise at the fly, such as the perch, chub, and pike, 
 but these are not nearly so partial to surface feeding as 
 dace. Though these fish generally prefer clear water, 
 they are found plentiful in the polluted portions of large 
 rivers. Their spawning time is April and May. Dace 
 will flourish wherever trout abound, which fish they re- 
 semble in their general habits. They seldom reach more 
 than fourteen ounces in weight. Though common to 
 running waters, they will flourish in still pools and ponds. 
 The same observation may be applied with equal truth 
 to the 
 
 * The daces proper of our waters are of small size and are used mainly 
 for bait. The names chub, fallfish, roach and dace are often applied to 
 one and the same fish, and this custom is apt to mislead the American 
 reader of the text. The dace is a favorite fish •with + he British anglers 
 as they take the fly during the fall months and in December and 
 January. 
 
38 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 Gudgeon.* — These little fish, in common with min- 
 nows and other small fry, frequent main rivers and 
 tributaries alike in incredible numbers, migrating in 
 shoals. They are extremely prolific. Their chief use to 
 the angler is for bait for the larger species of fish. 
 
 Chubj (Leueiscus cephalus). — Chub frequent deep and 
 rapid waters. They rank among the very coarsest of 
 fresh-water fish; nevertheless, they are not to be found 
 in stagnant, foul, or habitually discolored water; indeed, 
 it is rarely they flourish except where they have the ad- 
 vantage of a constant supply of food, as is the case in the 
 vicinity of the rapid passage of a volume of water. In 
 lakes, ponds, or canals, these fish are rarely found. Their 
 "holts" in small rivers are usually deep still pools, those 
 sheltered by overhanging trees or bushes being their 
 chosen resort, especially when the stream is powerful just 
 
 * The only counterpart we have, from an angling standpoint, of this 
 little fish, on the natural history and capture of which pages have been 
 ■written by English angling authors, is the gudgeon of the waters of 
 Baltimore ; when in season many dozens are caught on a tide with a 
 light red and running tackle. The fish of the text belongs to the 
 carp family and delights in running streams, while those of the United 
 States are caught in deep tidal "waters and are apparently anadromous. 
 
 t The nearest approach we have in the United States to the chub 
 of England is the tiemitolus corporalis, commonly called chub in this 
 country. This fish does not differ in habits, mode of feedinsr, etc., 
 from that one described by the author. I have found it, in small 
 streams, to be extremely shy and to insure success have been com- 
 pelled to creep stealthily to the bank and to avoid casting a shadow 
 overthe water. When hooked it will give delightful play, often leaping 
 once or twice out of the water, but its resistance is of short duration. 
 .They are struck mostly in the riffles where they take the fly somewhat 
 fiercely, the reverse occurring in the quiet pool, their action then being 
 somewhat sluggish. I have caught them weighing two pounds, but 
 they reach nearly double that size when their habitat is the deep 
 stretches of water above the dams of the upper rivers of the Northern 
 States. It is this fish and its congeners that are rapidly disappearing 
 in the States east of the Alleghenies under the onslaught of the ferocious 
 black ba6S. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 39 
 
 near the head of the pool. In larger and wider ones the 
 fish lie in the streams when gently flowing, and near the 
 shelving or well-wooded bank. Sandy or gravelly bottoms 
 are preferred by the chub. They are seldom or never 
 found where the bed of the water is of mud or loam; they, 
 like the grayling, find food in the gravel and sandy bed. 
 They feed, as is the case with the whole cyprinus family, 
 upon aquatic plants, and have, in common with their 
 order, fully developed throat teeth. Their food also con- 
 sists of worms, flies, beetles, grubs, and, indeed, every- 
 thing that in general forms food for their more aristo- 
 cratic fellow- tenants of the stream; and they are to be 
 taken with almost every conceivable bait, from a minnow 
 to a midge. Their edible qualities are bad, but when 
 rubbed with saltpetre immediately after being killed and 
 cleansed, they form tolerable fare. 
 
 Eels. — There are two distinct varieties of these fish 
 that are indigenous to this country, viz: — the sharp-nosed 
 species (Anguilla vulgaris) which, as far as can be ascer- 
 tained, is migratory in its habits, and the broad-nosed. 
 The former annually descend to the mouths of the rivers 
 they inhabit to find brackish water. This excursion is 
 made in the autumn, the main object being to find water 
 of the right temperature for vivifying their ova, as, unlike 
 all other species of fresh- water fish, they would appear to 
 require a higher rate of temperature for this purpose. It 
 is well-known that the water in the tidal part of rivers is 
 several degrees higher in temperature than that nearer 
 the source, owing, first, to the greater elevation of the 
 sources; and, secondly, to the contact of two fluids of 
 different densities, as salt and fresh water, which causes 
 an increase of temperature of at least two degrees. The 
 passage of the adult fish, during or immediately after a 
 flood down-stream in the autumn, is well-known to the 
 owners of fisheries upon our large rivers, who place traps 
 for their capture. The immense numbers that inhabit 
 
40 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 some waters is simply incredible. But if the downward 
 passage of eels is remarkable, it shrinks into insignificance 
 when compared with the spring ascents. Many accounts 
 of th? marvellous number of young elvers that pass up 
 stream in the spring months, have been given by various 
 writers upon this and kindred subjects. 
 
 The broad-nosed species do not ascend the rivers, but 
 locate in holes and crevices in masses of stone. In the 
 winter they lie dormant in the mud. This variety is not 
 esteemed as an article of diet. The young of the eel are 
 eagerly devoured by all fresh-water fish, including the 
 trout and salmon, and even the adult eels themselves, 
 hence it is that so few live to become developed. Eels 
 are vicious devourers of fish spawn, and were they to mul- 
 tiply to any great extent, the effect upon the higher order 
 of fish would be disastrous. Eels were long considered 
 viviparous, but this is now known to be erroneous. 
 
 The spawn of the migratory or sharp-nosed variety is 
 usually deposited and buried in sand beds, that of the 
 non-migratory species is deposited in the mud gradually, 
 during a considerable length of time, which accounts for 
 the intermittent passage of the young elvers or fry for 
 months in the spring of the year. AVhenever there has 
 been incessant heavy rain, eels turn out of their hiding 
 places to feed upon worms, the larvae of insects, encrustia, 
 etc., and in the case of the larger specimens upon small 
 fish. Mild winters are favorable for their capture, as in 
 the flushed waters that are then usual, they are always 
 on the forage for food. Poachers often take the best of 
 these fish upon their night-lines, a3 eels are undeniably 
 nocturnal in disposition. 
 
 The Perch* (Perca fiuviatiUs) flourishes in both stag- 
 
 * The perch of English waters is the yellow perch of America (Ihrca 
 Americana). The white varietj(MoroneAmericana), esteemed by us as a 
 table and semi game fish, is not named by the angling writers of Eng- 
 land. 
 
Plate 1. 
 
THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF PISH. 43 
 
 nant and running water. In the former they are more 
 commonly numerous ; the river perch are, however, 
 larger, and far more wily. The perch are to an extent a 
 gregarious fish, moving in shoals. Deej) holes and the 
 slower reaches of large rivers are their chosen resorts. 
 They are extremely hardy, flourishing in the foul water 
 of road-side pits, etc. They spawn in April and May. 
 They are extremely prolific, the number of eggs carried 
 by an adult fish being over 200,000. The spawn is de- 
 posited in an unbroken band or festoon of eggs, which 
 is generally entwined around weed stems, etc. Moles, 
 ducks, water-fowl, and vermin eagerly devour it. 
 
 Perch are of slow growth, considering the fact of their 
 being such voracious feeders. In confined places, where 
 the water is overstocked, they gradually diminish in size, 
 until they range to almost the size of a minnow. To keep 
 a stock of good perch in a confined water, they should be 
 netted every alternate season, the larger only of the fish 
 being returned; the smaller may be distributed elsewhere 
 as store fish. Yearling perch average two and a half 
 inches in length when fed plentifully. In favorable cir- 
 cumstances perch acquire an unusual weight, five or six 
 pounds being sometimes reached by them when the supply 
 of food has been good, and the surroundings favorable. 
 The remaining member of the Percidce species is the 
 
 Pope ok Eufpe* (Bough). — This fish is extremely 
 partial to canals and muddy pools. The more sluggish 
 running waters often contain vast quantities of them. 
 It is inferior to the perch, both as regards size and the 
 quality of its flesh. It is an equally voracious feeder, and 
 affords good sport to the youthful fisherman where it 
 
 t This fish is not known to our native anglers. It differs from our 
 ■white perch mainly in being of a darker color, approaching brown, on 
 the sides and hack, and having a continuous dorsal fin instead of two, 
 the latter being a distinguishing mark of our perches. 
 
44 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 abounds, it being readily taken with the coarsest tackle. 
 Ruffe spawn in April, and, like perch, multiply rapidly. 
 Pike and other large fish feed upon them. Both the form 
 and the habits of this fish are similar to those of the 
 perch. Its average length is four inches, aud it very 
 seldom exceeds six. For live bait for pike it is often in 
 great request, on account of its hardiness and attractive 
 color. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 BOTTOM FISHING (GENERAL). 
 
 POND-FISHING FOE PERCH, ETC., GUDGEON, DACE, AND ROACH 
 FISHING. 
 
 Under this heading we purpose dealing with each indi- 
 vidual fish sought after by the bottom fisher. The con- 
 stant increase in this class of anglers has of late become 
 so noteworthy that any work on modern methods of 
 angling would be signally incomplete were this important 
 branch ignored. Still-water or pond fishing is associated 
 with the earliest recollections of the majority of fisher- 
 men, whether fly, mid-water, or bottom fishers. AVe 
 shall, therefore, commence with this simple phase of the 
 gentle art. Worm fishing may be practised successfully 
 for almost every variety of fish in fresh water, not ex- 
 cluding even the trout and salmon. We have devoted a 
 separate chapter to worm fishing for the first-named, 
 The usual objects of the bottom fisher in still water are 
 what are known as coarse fish, ranging from the pike 
 down to the perch and gudgeon, and the arrangement of 
 the tackle employed varies both according to the kind of 
 fish it is desired to take, and the lay of the water. Float 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 45 
 
 fishing is the chief resort of the bottom iisher in standing 
 water. Almost anything in the shape of a rod will answer 
 for this purpose, the only essential being stiffness and 
 strength. Bamboo is the best material for a general bot- 
 tom rod, a variety of top joints of different strength and 
 length adapting it for both heavy and light work. Be- 
 fore taking the fish in detail we would enjoin the atten- 
 tion of the tyro to the following hints:* — 
 
 Don't unduly expose either the person or the rod by 
 restless movements upon the edge of the water. 
 
 Avoid disturbing as much as is possible the surface of 
 the fish's element by incessant movements of the float 
 and bait. 
 
 Never employ a larger float, and therefore more sink- 
 ers, than is absolutely requisite. 
 
 Always ascertain the precise depth of the water it is 
 intended to fish before commencing, so that the bait may 
 come within the ken of the fish. 
 
 See that the lure is placed upon the hook in as natural 
 a manner as is possible, viz. , by threading the worm, if a 
 worm is used, up the centre, leaving a portion of each 
 extremity free. 
 
 When a fish is hooked, do not suddenly, as Homer has 
 it, " lift it quivering to the skies." There is no need for 
 transporting your "finny prize" in a strictly perpen- 
 dicular direction. The thing to do is gently tug the 
 quarry to the bank before leaving the water, as by so do- 
 ing the pulling power, without the addition of the weight 
 of the capture, is placed upon the tackle. To work out 
 the diagram given, we commence with 
 
 Perch Fishing.— The first consideration for the 
 youthful aspirant, after fixing upon a likely spot, where 
 
 * "We commend these practical rules to all anglers, young or old, who 
 delight in bottom fishing. Many of them are apt to fish " loose " in 
 deep waters. 
 
46 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 the water is most discolored* (which is generally in the 
 vicinity of weeds), is the depth. This may he easily as- 
 certained by plumbing, by means of a scrap of sheet lead 
 or wire, rolled round the hook, or without this by ob- 
 serving the float when properly weighted, as in standing 
 water it lies on one side when the sinkers touch the bot- 
 tom. After thus accurately taking the depth, the tackle 
 should be so arranged as to admit of the lure reaching 
 within three inches or so of the bottom. A few pieces of 
 turf, containing worms, may be put in the water before 
 " rigging up " tbe tackle, f The vigorous action of these, 
 on being suddenly introduced into a strange element, 
 answers admirably in attracting the notice of and collect- 
 ing the fish. A small, w 7 ell-scoured dew or lob worm 
 should then be carefully threaded upon the hook. The 
 float should be cork, not colored. The brilliantly daubed 
 article usually offered for sale ought always to be assidu- 
 ously avoided. A common bottle cork is not to be sur- 
 passed, and, if the quill that pierces the cork be vermil- 
 ion-tipped, so much the better. By the use of a small 
 forked stick the rod may be suspended upon the bank, 
 whilst the owner looks out and prepares a new place, in 
 case a change may become desirable, or two rods may be 
 used. When fish run large, for better security, a pot- 
 hook shaped iron inserted in the ground at the full ex- 
 tremity of the rod will render all safe. Large hooks should 
 be used, as by such voracious and bold biters as perch an 
 ordinary worm hook for trout fishing will be paunched 
 without difficulty. 
 
 In rivers, in the early part of the season, perch are 
 generally found in gently-flowing water, not very deep. 
 
 * Clearwater is best for perch fishing in our waters. When it is riled, 
 the fish cease to go in shoals and arc caught, only here and there, gener- 
 ally a single fish at a time. 
 
 + Ground baiting is not followed to any degree by American anglers. 
 Its value cannot be disputed, particularly in black ba^s waters. 
 
BOTTOM FISRING. 47 
 
 As the season advances, they locate under hollow banks 
 and by whirling eddies, or smooth, gravelly-bottomed 
 swims, but towards September and October they frequent 
 the deepest parts of the river, near roots, sunken sticks, 
 or in other fastnesses. Perch are gregarious; care should, 
 therefore, be taken not suddenly to disturb a hole or swim. 
 They will run eagerly at the minnow, especially in the 
 summer months, but the method by which most sport 
 may be derived from them is to cast for them with a trio 
 of artificial red palmers or caterpillars (double-hooked), 
 attached to a moderately strong fly cast, one at the point 
 and the others mounted upon gut lengths, and attached 
 as droppers. These are used as small flies, just as when 
 working them for trout, with this exception — when a fish 
 is hooked no action is taken whatever. The hooked fish 
 will quickly be shown, and will work the remaining 
 palmers infinitely better than the rodster can, and, in- 
 credible as it may seem, by this means each lure will have 
 secured its capture in a very short time after- the first was 
 hooked. The difficulty of landing these contributions 
 adds in no small degree to the diversion.* It sometimes 
 happens when the casts are full fine, or the fish extra 
 large, that a loss of a portion of the gut, together with its 
 appendage, is experienced ; but this is an unusual occur- 
 rence, more particularly if sound and strong casts be used. 
 The best way to land a string of perch is to secure the 
 endmost one in the net first, and when this is done the 
 rest seldom get into mischief, and are generally easily 
 landed. There are numerous methods of extracting perch, 
 and if it be true that the amount of diversion derived 
 from sport is in proportion to the novelty introduced, 
 perch fishing presents important attractions. The arti- 
 
 * When black bass do not run over a pound or two in weight, I invari- 
 ably use the method of the text ; especially if the first fish chances to be 
 hooked on the " hand " fly ; the " end " fly in this case plays beautifully 
 and, nine times out of ten, a second bass will strike it. 
 
48 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLES. 
 
 ficial spinning bait and spoon, the roving live bait, the 
 fly,* both artificial and natural, maybe successfully used. 
 The more advanced methods of bottom fishing may also 
 be resorted to in the case of the perch; indeed, this is a 
 matter of necessity in river fishing, where the large fish 
 exhibit a degree of wariness akin to that of the acute 
 carp. Whipping with the cad-bait, fresh-water shrimp, 
 and other aquatic insects in nymphse form also affords 
 capital s]iort, even in clear water, under the overhanging 
 banks, trees, or bushes, amongst well-educated shoals of 
 these fish. 
 
 The Gudgeon {Genus Gohia) are very prevalent in 
 slowly-running waters, those having gravelly or sandy 
 bottoms being the best adapted for them. They increase 
 wonderfully, and like most small fish, they spawn twice 
 and often three times in the year. Upon most of our 
 large rivers, as well as upon the majority of our small 
 streams, gudgeon fishing is a popular pastime in its sea- 
 son, which commences with July and ends with Septem- 
 ber. The following is the sj'stem mainly resorted to upon 
 the Thames and Trent. A punt is moored in a moderate 
 flowing stream, four or perhaps five feet in depth. The 
 bottom is disturbed by a large and heavy metal rake,f 
 brought for the purpose, when the fish (which are grega- 
 rious, going in large shoals), congregate in great numbers 
 in the water thus discolored to feed upon the grubs and 
 larvae of insects. But little skill is needed to catch this 
 fish. Its excessive gullibility is Avell known. The mean- 
 ing expressed by being "gudgeoned," is, as everybody 
 
 * The American yellow perch will take the fly freely. I have caught 
 them on the rocky shoals of Lake Champlain and in the rivers of the 
 Middle States, on almost every variety of black bass flies. 
 
 t A most excellent plan to adopt when Ashing for flounders in salt 
 water. It is used by a few New York City auglers, and in no other sec- 
 tion to my knowledge. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 49 
 
 knows, being easily deceived. Poets, too, adopt the bold 
 little gudgeon as an analogy to convey the same impres- 
 sion, as Gay serenely sings — 
 
 " Wbat gudgeons are we men, 
 
 Every woman's easy prey ; 
 Though we felt the hook, again 
 
 We bite, and they betray ! " 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, the finest tackle and a nine or 
 ten-foot rod, stiff and light, are essential to moderate suc- 
 cess. The telescoj)e Japanese bamboo rods answer well 
 for these fish, though we cannot commend their use for 
 fish of heavier calibre. The finest possible line should be 
 used; as to whether it be twist or plait is immaterial. A 
 light cork, or better still, a small quill float, and small 
 No. 12 hook, complete the equipment. Some fishermen 
 advocate the use of extra strong tackle to meet exceptional 
 emergencies; as for instance, when angling for gudgeon 
 they will employ a hook and line equal to landing a heavy 
 tench, perch, or chub. That this is folly is proved by 
 the result of a trial of the two systems in the weight of 
 fish taken. If you wish to take perch or chub, why not 
 angle for them ? Do not use unsuitable tackle upon any 
 pretext. "We have often known anglers spoil all prospects 
 of sport by their stupidity in this respect, rigging up 
 trout baits with gimp because of the probable presence 
 of a pike, for instance, in which case the result is, gener- 
 ally speaking, simply nil. 
 
 The best bait for these fish are worms, gentles, and the 
 cad-bait grub, the latter found in its sheath at the bot- 
 tom of the water. The small worm known in the Mid- 
 lands as the "Cockspur" is the favorite lure, and the 
 brandling, too, often does great execution. In striking 
 even a gudgeon, a little art and aptness tell marvellously 
 in a day's fishing. No slack line should intervene be- 
 tween the rodster and the feeding fish, as, though a bold 
 biter, it is equally energetic in rejecting the bait when 
 3 
 
50 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 the hard substance of the hook is detected. A rapid 
 striker will hook two fish to a dilatory angler's one. The 
 bait, which should be very minute, should be so arranged 
 as to just escape the bottom. 
 
 From an edible point of view, the gudgeon is superior 
 to many, we may say the majority, of fishes that inhabit 
 fresh water. 
 
 Dace. — This fish seldom attains more than three- 
 quarters of a pound weight, though occasionally it may 
 reach one pound. Dace are numerous in most trout 
 streams, more especially in those of Wales and the south- 
 ern counties of England. They afford excellent sport 
 when feeding in sufficient quantities, though they are 
 occasionally very annoying to the fly-fisher for trout; in- 
 deed, they are to be taken in large numbers by a gaudily 
 dressed fly, towards the end of the summer. The small 
 palmers (red, gray, and black), bumble, and red tags, etc., 
 are the description that find most favor in the eyes 
 of this fish, though sometimes they are by no means 
 partial in this respect. 
 
 To the fly-angler for dace, we would observe that when 
 these fish are fastidious in rising, a gentle, or a wasp- 
 grub, or even a tiny strip of flannel, when placed so as to 
 hide the hook, will render the thing effective; but the 
 usual mode of angling for these fish is by bottom fishing. 
 The tackle and hooks hereafter recommended for roach 
 are equally well adapted for dace fishing, and as both 
 are found upon the same swims, the angler frequently 
 extracts a mixed bag. Like the gudgeon, the dace is a 
 bold biter, and is sharp, often incredibly so, in discharg- 
 ing the lure if not struck speedily. It is unlike the roach 
 in the latter characteristic. As regards gameness the 
 dace has considerable repute. Bait fishing for dace is 
 mostly followed, and is most productive m winter. His 
 flfish is not, however, much appreciated for the table. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 51 
 
 For live bait fishing for pike the dace is valued, and 
 justly so. 
 
 The Roach* {Genus rutilus) is rightly awarded no 
 mean position in angling literature. This cannot be 
 said to be on account of its weight and size, or its 
 edible qualities, but purely because of tbe skill re- 
 quisite for its capture. The early authors we know 
 write differently, and their statements may then have 
 been justified by their comparatively unsophisticated 
 fish, and are still in the case of under-fed pond fish. 
 With river roach, however, the case is widely different ; 
 to bag a decent take, the rodster must be a practical hand 
 of no mean attainments and experience. This branch of 
 angling is so popular in these days that upon all the most 
 noted rivers these fish are marvellously well schooled, so 
 much so upon certain waters as to rival in wiliness the 
 trout upon some streams ; but the accomplished roach 
 fisher will make a respectable bag, even in adverse circum- 
 stances, always supposing the fish are there to catch. 
 "With regard to the suitable equipage, the rod demands 
 the first attention. This should be stiff, light, and of 
 fair length. Some anglers use implements of prodigious 
 dimensions. We recommend an East India cane, of ten 
 or twelve feet, as being well adapted for every useful pur- 
 pose. Some capital roach rods are made from lancewood, 
 red deal being employed for the butt-piece. When good 
 material is employed, a rod of the following dimensions 
 for a three-part rod will combine lightness with strength. 
 The diameter of the ferrules at the top of the butt joint 
 
 * The roach of our rivers will take the fly, if small and bright in color. 
 Few of them, however, are caught by this method of fishing. On the 
 Delaware River from the piers in the lower part of the city of Phila- 
 delphia, large quantities are sometimes caught through the ice by the 
 use of light rods, small hooks, and dough bait. They are small in size, 
 seldom exceeding seven inches in length, but their shyness is equal to 
 the English fish. 
 
52 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 should be 5 / 8 inch inside, that of the end of the middle 
 jjiece 5 / 10 of an inch, reel fittings and terminating ferrules 
 on the foot of the butt about V/ s or l'/ t in diameter. This 
 ratio will be found to form a well-proportioned taj>er 
 from the band upwards, the wood, of course, tapering so 
 as to fit the ferrules without the metal being sunk in the 
 joints. Incalculable disasters ensue from a non-observ- 
 ance of this all-important provision. The wood of the 
 immense majority of rods manufactured, being robbed at 
 its weakest point to accommodate the ferrules, leads to 
 frequent breakages. We deal more fully with this subject 
 elsewhere. Eoach are noted for their excessive shyness 
 and quickness of vision, therefore in clear water it is 
 essential to exhibit as little of the rod and person as pos- 
 sible, as in addition to this they are adepts, when they 
 understand the situation, at extracting neatly the bait 
 from the hook, and leaving the mere skin or frame behind. 
 We remember keeping for some years a large roach 
 amongst other fish, in a tank fed by a small rill of spring 
 water. Upon our casting a score of house flies or gentles 
 in a batch, one only having a small hook concealed care- 
 fully, Mr. Eoach would invariably absorb unhesitatingly 
 all and every insect but the identical specimen containing 
 the hidden book, nothing of w 7 hich but the point would 
 be visible, although other and smaller fish would exhibit 
 no such scruples. It is this special caution of the roach 
 that calls into play so much care and tact on the part of 
 the rodster. The line should be of the very finest possible 
 texture and undressed. Eaw silk is the best material for 
 firmness and strength. "When angling with fine line, 
 more especially is it requisite to keep proper command 
 over the bait by retaining little slack line from the tip of 
 the rod downwards. Many advantages ensue from the 
 use of an extra fine line, retaining of course full requisite 
 strength, both in live bait, bottom, and surface fishing. 
 As every angler will admit, the less the surface of the line, 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 53 
 
 the less resistance offered by the air, and the greater 
 chances of success and. deception. The hook is also a 
 point of the greatest importance, and one to which meagre 
 attention is but usually paid. A bad or defective hook 
 is an abomination to the user ; to employ one is as detri- 
 mental to sport as the use of pasteboard bullets would be 
 for deer stalking. As we have devoted a separate chapter 
 to the consideration of hooks, we shall merely quote an 
 instance from our own personal experience, anent this 
 subject. 
 
 In company with an angling acquaintance, we were 
 fishing upon a once celebrated roach reach on the Trent, 
 not many miles from Burton. Our companion was rather 
 positive in his ideas of hooks. He inherited a notion 
 from his sire, who it was asserted was the best roach fisher 
 of his day, that the weight and dimensions of one's takes 
 ranged in a certain degree according to the weight of 
 metal and dimensions of the hook employed, the heresy 
 of which doctrine will be obvious to any modern disciple 
 of the rod. The descendant of the redoubtable rodster 
 favored a JSTo. 8 Carlisle hook, and nothing we could ad- 
 vance appeared to convince him of the absurdity of his 
 prejudiced opinions. Finally, we arranged to fish the 
 matter out, hence it was that we repaired to a noted 
 spot upon the noble Trent. Circumstances were favor- 
 able to sport, and as the swim had been nicely and judi- 
 ciously baited the day previous, we quickly did some 
 execution. After an hour or two's fishing, we had gained 
 gradually but at an increasing rate on our antagonist ; he 
 accounted for this by affirming that we had monopolized 
 the best position, on which we "swapped" places. The 
 main result, however, was still the same. Our companion 
 now suggested that the secret lay in our bait, on which 
 our reserve was immediately placed at his disposal. Still 
 the same result appeared, though in a much more marked 
 degree, and our friend now became irritable, and his 
 
54 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 patience collapsed, together with his rod and tackle. 
 "Luck's dead against me, and it's useless fighting against 
 fate," was the explanation tendered, while the process of 
 unjointing was heing gone through. We now thought it 
 high time to expostulate by delivering ourselves of our 
 view of the affair, which we speedily did, winding up with 
 an offer to so rig up our friend that he would equal if not 
 rival us. This was finally carried out, and the result 
 showed that with an accurately constructed hook five 
 bites amounted upon the average to four fish, whilst with 
 a badly made or deformed one, the bites, or rather nibbles 
 in this case, yielded but a meagre per centage of captures, 
 the precise number ranging, as a matter of course, accord- 
 ing to the size and nature of the hook. 
 
 The float should be very light. Another consideration 
 is the substance to mount the hooks upon — whether hair 
 or gut — some anglers preferring one, and some the other.* 
 There are equally good anglers upon both sides, but the 
 ancient hair, it cannot be denied, is rapidly losing 
 ground before refined gut, which is now imported, in such 
 immense quantities from Spain, Sicily, China, and else- 
 where, and may be said to be thrice the strength and 
 half the substance of the traditional hair. It is, or 
 should be, the object of the fisherman to reduce his lines 
 and general tackle so as to be as nearly invisible as possi- 
 ble, to which end it is essential that the bulk and surface 
 presentable should be reduced as far as is compatible with 
 strength. It is therefore an advance in the right direc- 
 tion (and one that should have been taken before) to 
 have the gut drawn whilst in its gummy state to as fine 
 proportions as are requisite to meet special cases, for, 
 although we were the originators of the gut-drawing sys- 
 tem, we have no hesitation in proclaiming the superiority 
 of the gut drawn accurately, prior to its being set and 
 
 * Hair snoods are used by the roach anglers of Philadelphia. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 55 
 
 hard, as then it retains its enamelled surface entire. Had 
 this been done a quarter of a century or so ago, the neces- 
 sity for our oft- repeated researches would not have exist- 
 ed. To assert that hair of any description is equal to 
 even gut of equal thickness, is absurd. The former is 
 not only weak, being hollow, but is given to stretch when 
 strained, and is very susceptible to breaking at knots. It 
 magnifies greatly in the water, and, lastly, absorbs the 
 wet, and swells. On the other hand very little can be 
 urged in regard to the use of the gut that is detrimental. 
 It can now be obtained one-third the thickness of hair, 
 each strand being far superior in point of strength, and 
 when slightly stained the color of the water where it is 
 intended to be used, it is as near being invisible as any- 
 thing ever discovered, Hair effectually superseded the 
 Indian weed, and silk-worm gut will eventually supersede 
 hair quite as effectually. 
 
 To return to our subject. Gentles, pastes, boiled grain, 
 cad or straw bait, and small red worms are most worthy 
 the angler's attention as baits. It is necessary to bait 
 moderately the swim fixed upon the evening previous. 
 We emphasize moderately, because it is the custom to 
 sink so much food for the fish under the appellation of 
 ground-bait, that by the time the expectant rodster 
 "turns up" the whole school will have gorged them- 
 selves and dispersed to more secluded nooks to doze off 
 the effects; hence it is the enterprising angler so fre- 
 quently meets with scant sport. This is often attributed 
 to the influence of passing electricity, whether in the 
 earth, or atmosphere, or may be both; failing this, and a 
 thousand and one other abstruse reasons, the weary angler 
 can always comfort himself and explain to his friends and 
 neighbors that as there was scarcely anything in the swim 
 in question, it followed in the natural course of things 
 that little could be hauled out of it. After baiting judi- 
 ciously overnight, the fish will have congregated upon 
 
56 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 the baited spot at daybreak, if not before, when they are 
 on the forage for breakfast. The object in baiting over 
 night, it must not be forgotten, is merely to produce an 
 appetizing effect on the next morning. If the object in 
 view be to collect fish at any given spot from more distant 
 localities, a good store of ground-bait should be placed 
 there for a day or two previous, always allowing a whole 
 day and night's interval between the final baiting and the 
 time for angling. 
 
 Having first ascertained the depth by the method pre- 
 viously described, and arranged the float so as to admit 
 of the bait ranging three or four inches from the bottom 
 of the water, the hand supporting the rod should be 
 ever ready to knock home the hook nicely and carefully, 
 and not too hastily. The correct motion will be readily 
 acquired by practice. Small fish will often take the float 
 under by a jerk, whilst the corpulent members of the 
 same species will scarcely indicate their presence by a 
 disturbance of the float at all, though when these begin 
 to pay their addresses to your lure after this style, it 
 generally proves a favorable symptom for sport ; but fre- 
 quently this exhibition of tenderness and delicacy is 
 merely the result of their style of mouth-work, if we 
 may be allowed to use the expression, the object of which, 
 the angler soon finds out, is to extract the bait from the 
 hook neatly and effectively. Now this is just as bad a 
 sign as the other is a good one, and what is worse, as a 
 general thing, the angler cannot help himself. A plan 
 we have found to answer ourselves in these circumstances 
 is to hang a scrap of the finest and best gut one quarter 
 of an inch below the hook, and upon this excessively fine 
 gut to attach a very small hook (though of small size, to 
 retain good strength of metal), upon this one-half of a 
 maggot or gentle is attached, with a full-sized one, or 
 even two, upon the hook above ; this will not fail to 
 " fetch" the most finical of the tinny race in question. 
 
BOTTOM EISHING. 57 
 
 Upon hooking a fish, the chief consideration must be 
 how to extract him without damage to the swim,* dash 
 and bustle being highly unfavorable to the situation, the 
 capture must be consummated as soon as is compatible 
 with the general weal. A judicious change of situation 
 is the best thing under the circumstances, therefore 
 when this can be carried out effectually the fish may be 
 quietly landed in some secluded side spot away from 
 the baited swim. 
 
 The persistent voracity of bleak, where they are numer- 
 ous, is often very annoying to the roach fisher. These 
 small fish, locating near the surface of the t\ ater, absorb 
 the lure before it comes within the ken of the portly 
 roach. The effect of this is the more tantalizing when 
 fishing with gentles, or grain of any description. When 
 this petty larceny is going on, resort must be had to the 
 following expedients : Get a fair-sized piece of paste or 
 clay, bell-shaped, the hollow of which must be filled up 
 with dry bran. This should then be attached to the 
 hook and slowly let down. The bran will gradually 
 escape as it sinks, the bright atoms of which, as they are 
 carried down-stream, attract the small fry after them. 
 When clay or paste — the latter is preferable, as it will serve 
 a double purpose in dispersing the bleak and forming 
 ground bait for the roach — is not convenient, a handfulf 
 of bran thrown in the water will have the desired effect, 
 though somewhat temporary in its character. To reach 
 the roach at the bottom of a still deep hole, a few gentles 
 should be pressed in clay, leaving small outlets for escape. 
 A few of these will have the desired effects of attracting 
 the notice and exciting the foraging instincts of the 
 larger fish. Whenever roach fail to approach the bait 
 
 * The fish in a given water — the swim of fish. 
 
 1 1 have sometimes found that a handful of earth thrown into the 
 water will recall the fish when they have temporarily stopped hiting. 
 
58 THE SCIEXT.FIC AXGLEE. 
 
 presented, a change should be made, if practicable. The 
 wisest policy is, however, to examine the stomach of the 
 first capture, as in the case of fly-fishing. 
 
 We have frequently found a predominance of beetles, 
 and even flies, in the stomachs of the fish, which ac- 
 counted for a previous marked indifference to our bottom 
 bait : we are now speaking of roach in our smaller 
 streams, where the variety of food is much greater. In 
 the lowest portions of the majority of our best trout 
 streams, as, for instance, the tributaries of the Thames 
 and Trent, much execution may be doue with the sunk 
 house-fly in September, when these and the wood-fly are 
 blind and feeble, and are scattered as the falling leaves 
 by each gust of wind. Whatever may be the contents of 
 the stomach of the fish, the bait should harmonize as 
 much as possible with what is found to be the inclination 
 of the quarry, whether it be worms, grubs, larvae of 
 insects, or even weeds, for the roach is occasionally a 
 vegetarian. In the case of the last-named predominancy, 
 paste may be used with advantage, and failiug this, silk- 
 weed when procurable. "Whatever you do, do not use 
 stale bait, or the sure Nemesis will be stale sport. Eoach 
 are excessively nice in their ideas, and the careful pan- 
 derer to their base desires will reap ample payment for 
 his exertions.* 
 
 * I have given the chapter on roach fishing in full, because every line 
 of it is of use to that class of anglers who fish shallow ponds or small 
 lakes and the rivers above tide water, where the sunfish and perch 
 gather in the deep holes. Fine fishing (there is none more delicate 
 than the English method of fishing for roach) is in such waters indis- 
 pensable to a fair creel. The section on Barbel fishing is omitted, as we 
 have no fish in American waters which can be caUed its congener. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 59 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BOTTOM FISHING— Continued. 
 
 ANGLING FOR CARP AND CHUB. 
 
 The Carp* — (Genus Cyprinus) — is a very wily fish ; in 
 waters much fished chey come rather as an exceptional 
 prize to the angler, whose attentions and baits were 
 intended for the allurement of other fish. In well-pre- 
 served and little-fished waters they are to be occasionally 
 taken of very large size. The smaller fish, under three 
 pounds or so, are far less cunning. 
 
 The angler for carp cannot be too careful and cpaiet in 
 his movements, nor too skillful in the use of the tackle, 
 which latter cannot possibly be too fine, so long as a 
 reasonable amount of strength is retained. We put forth 
 the above, notwithstanding the exbortations of the early 
 writers as to the use of. strong "harnessing" and tackle, 
 for if any fish is gifted with reasoning powers it is the 
 carp; as even when hunger-bitten it displays the most 
 tantalizing caution in what it absorbs. An all-round 
 inspection is invariably given to the bait before it is cau- 
 tiously closed upon; sometimes the rodster in clear water 
 plainly discerns a yellow monster, which, after describing 
 a number of circles around the bait, traces the line to the 
 surface, which done, the carping critic waves a courteous 
 or contemptuous farewell flourish of his broad tail and is 
 
 * Our author certainly presents us with a pleasing picture of the 
 " cuteuess" of the carp as a rod fish. American anglers, however 
 should not become enthusiastic over this fish until, after due trial and a 
 full probation, he is found to merit the honor. Change of habitat some- 
 times creates a vast difference in the game qualities of a fish, but I am 
 disposed to discredit the possession of such qualities by any fish that 
 feeds, from choice, on a vegetable diet. 
 
60 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 gone.* Occasionally, however, the programme is varied, 
 for instead of clearing up the problem by a judicious 
 investigation up to the source, he proceeds skillfully and 
 artistically to dissect the bait, with a view to clear up 
 the mystery. It is no uncommon thing for the tyro to 
 have the bait taken from the hook for hours without in- 
 termission. There cannot be a rational doubt that the 
 fish, when this is the case, fully comprehends the situa- 
 tion. Worms, when well scoured and presented lively 
 and fresh, are good baits. These, however, are to be used 
 at the bottom, ledgerf fashion, only instead of the v sual 
 large lead, a couple of perforated swan shot should be 
 strung upon the line, and confined to within two-thirds 
 of a yard above the hook and bait, by a small-sized shot 
 attached to the line at the requisite place; or a double 
 knot of the gut may be made to answer the same purpose. 
 Potatoes, when part boiled, we have always found a more 
 killing bait than any other for these fish; they may be 
 used with ledger tackle as above. 
 
 Our method of using the above is to rig up three and 
 one-half yards of medium gut — a strongish fly cast will 
 answer this purpose — with three-dropper hook — No. 6, 
 Kendal, are best — on eight or ten -inch gut. These are 
 placed two feet apart, a small shot being fixed to each yard 
 of the main gut line. The whole of the hooks are then to 
 be baited with the prepared potatoes, a piece the size of a 
 cherry being used for each hook, the whole delivered out 
 
 * This quality of caution and captiousness in the carp is displayed in 
 other fish. The little " sunny" sometimes exhibits it, and I have seen a 
 black bass flash from out of a depth of six or eight feet of water, nose 
 the artificial fly, and then back water slowly with a sort of " no-you- 
 dont" flirt of the tail, as palpably intelligible as the finger to nose action 
 of the street gamin. 
 
 t The ledger consists of a perforate J bullet, or a roll of sheet lead, 
 about an ounce or so in weight. When this lies upon the bottom, the 
 line will run freely through it, until checked by a shot fastened about 
 two feet above the hook. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 61 
 
 by a careful underhand cast. The bait is pitched well out 
 to an open space on the water's surface. The prospects of 
 sport are improved when the surface is covered with weeds, 
 as the rodster's movements and person are thus obscured. 
 When a bite is indicated, an interval of a few seconds, 
 varying according to circumstances, must be given before 
 striking; a safe signal is the attempt to carry away the 
 bait: the fish has it then within his jaws, and a sharp 
 strike may be given by the time it has progressed a couple 
 of feet or so. In clear open standing water it is essential 
 that the angler should keep as much out of sight, and as 
 stationary upon the bank as possible; an intervening bush 
 or tree trunk may serve as an admirable cover to operate 
 from. 
 
 There is an endless variety of bait used for carp, par- 
 ticularly of pastes, which range from a compound of 
 honey and sugar to bread and bran. From our own per- 
 sonal experience, we cannot commend them as being 
 generally efficient, though we have occasionally found 
 them taking, but when a particular kind of bait has been 
 much used, a change is often effective. * 
 
 Chub (Genus Leuciscus). — These fish may be fished 
 for by an almost endless variety of baits. They will 
 take a fly with as much avidity as they will swallow a 
 worm. Bottom fishers chiefly use pastes, graves or 
 scratching, ox-brain, and the worm, when angling spe- 
 cially for these fish. But they are more often caught 
 when angling for other fish, as for barbel, roach, bream, 
 etc. Float-fishing is the best in the winter months, 
 when surface and mid water food is scarce. An old 
 haunt for these fish will often yield great sport upon a 
 sharp frosty day in midwinter. We once took six fish 
 that scaled twenty-seven pounds from one hole on the 
 
 * The few paragraphs on fishing for tench and bream are omitted. 
 They possess no interest to anglers on this side of the water. 
 
62 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 Dove below Rocester. The scales of some of these were 
 the size of a shilling. Chub are to be steadily headed from 
 the hole when hooked, in order to avoid disturbing the re- 
 mainder of the school. Ledgering is also a favorite 
 style of angling for them in some waters, the gut and 
 tackle being generally stouter than for other fish, as 
 when a large fish is hooked it is a case of "pull devil, 
 pull baker." A slender weak rod should especially be 
 eschewed, as to keep the fish from the roots in the neigh- 
 borhood of their haunts, the best built and most evenly 
 proportioned rod procurable is unequal to the occasion ; 
 a certain amount of pliant play is necessary to aid the 
 tackle. The best wood to employ for a bottom rod for 
 chub is Eamshorn Ash (English) for butt, hickory for 
 middle joint, and a spliced treble cane top. We have 
 had a rod of this description in use for the last forty 
 years, and it is still as sound and useful as ever. Upon 
 all bottom rods the rings should be upright, and the reel 
 fittings, as in the case of the fly-rod, should be fixed to 
 the bottom of the butt joint, so as to balance as much 
 as possible. To place it a foot or so from the extremity 
 of the joint is foolish, it being just in the way of the 
 rodster's hand when using, and also highly inconvenient 
 generally. In the early autumn months chub are to be 
 taken by dibbing* (surface fishing) daping (midwater) 
 with live insects, such as the larger of the flies and bee- 
 tles, humble bees, grasshoppers, etc. Instructions as to 
 
 * " Dibbing " or " daping " may be brief!}' described as follows : Hav- 
 ing selected the special pool or hole where the chub are known to be, 
 the angler cautiously approaches the spot, keeping out of sight, and, if 
 necessary, crawling upon his hands and knees. Upon reaching the de- 
 sired point, he remains quiet for a moment or two to allow the fish to 
 recover their equanimity, if it has been disturbed. Then gently extend- 
 ing the rod over the water, he allows the baited hook to fall from his 
 hand, so that it will hang five to eight inches above the water. Moving 
 it quietly over the spot where he thinks the fish arc most plentiful, the 
 bait is dropped quickly on the surface of the water. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 63 
 
 the method of using these we have given in a separate 
 chapter. Upon the Thames and Trent of late young 
 frogs have become the favorite bait for chub in their sea- 
 son. The average yield of a day's "chubbing" with 
 these lures is about eight to ten brace of heavy fish. This 
 would often be larger were it not for the smaller fry biting 
 so voraciously, and thereby causing loss of time to the 
 angler, whose duty it is to carefully unhook and return 
 them to the river. It is now no uncommon thing to 
 meet an angler with his bait-kettle converted into a tem- 
 porary prison for frogs, so popular has become this sys- 
 tem of fishing for chub. 
 
 The arrangement of tackle is simple: A No. 4 Kendal 
 hook, at the end of two feet of tolerably strong round 
 gut (slightly stained blue) with a scrap of lead wire 
 wound round above the knot. The baby frog is then 
 hooked by a bit of the tough skin at the back of the 
 neck, and carefully lowered from the point of the rod, 
 the weight of the bait taking out the line through the up- 
 standing rings, when allowed, until it reaches the water's 
 surface, the rod m eanwhile being kept stationary. The 
 struggling movements of the captive quickly attract the 
 attention of the best and largest fish near, amongst whom 
 the bait is often divided, and, when this is so, great 
 diversion is afforded, as eventually the most voracious is 
 the first to grace the creel. The most artistic method of 
 extracting chub is to fly-fish for them. The surface flies 
 for these fish should be large and gaudy; if nature must 
 be copied at all, bees, wasps, and cock-chafers are the 
 things to reproduce, the ordinary red, black, and dun 
 palmers, having plenty of tinsel upon them, are also kill- 
 ing. Lake or sea-trout fly size are very good, also old 
 May-flies, and indeed anything that is sizable and gaudy. 
 A good strong cast should be used with these, especially 
 when the water is a little turbid, or discolored. The red- 
 haired caterpillar, too, may be used for chub with marked 
 
64 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 effect, in the way we recommend for trout and other fish. 
 The attractiveness of any fly or beetle, whether artificial 
 or natural, is greatly enhanced in the eyes of a chub by 
 the addition of a couple of maggots, wasp-grub, or even 
 a narrow strip of wash-leather or white kid upon the 
 hook. Early morning fishing in the autumn is often 
 more productive than mid-day or night; why this is so we 
 can scarcely say. The minnow is as easily taken by these 
 fish as any other bait, and towards twilight in July, 
 August, and September, the chub will "run" at either 
 natural or artificial, so long as the bait is clear, bright, 
 and well spun. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 BOTTOM FISHING— Continued. 
 
 PUNT FISHING, BANK FISHING, BOTTOM LINES, FLOATS, SILK- 
 WORM GUT, REELS OR WINCHES. 
 
 In punt fishing, a much shorter rod should be em- 
 ployed than is necessary for fishing from the bank. The 
 material should be cane. The East Indian variety is by 
 far the best, both for durability and strength. This will 
 be found to stand heavy punishment when other woods 
 give way; indeed, we doubt as to whether the hardest and 
 most solid wood that grows will surpass, or even equal it 
 in these characteristics. Solid wooded rods are not only 
 more apt to break, but to bend permanently, so as to 
 necessitate the reversing of the rings to the opposite side 
 of the joints periodically; but there is one thing wc can- 
 not omit calling attention to anent cane rods, and that is 
 their liability to snap at the joints close to the ferrules. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 65 
 
 There is, of course, a stiff place where the parts meet in 
 a non-spliced rod, and when an unusual strain is applied 
 to it, the wood immediately, above or below, snaps off 
 short. The nuisance of this may be effectually avoided 
 by inserting a small wooden plug, of some four or five 
 inches in length, in the hollow of the cane, which equal- 
 izes the strength of the rod when correctly proportioned 
 throughout. Solid upright rings are preferable to the 
 ordinary loose ones; the most expensive rods are some- 
 times fitted up with agate mounted rings and tips when 
 intended for trolling purposes. These prevent the rings 
 from being worn by the constant friction. Instead of the 
 ordinary circular-shaped rings, we advise the use of dome 
 or conical ones. These are not liable to entangle one's 
 line, no convenient foothold being presented by their 
 sloping sides. The lirnp loose line entwines around any 
 projecting substance presented, and any removal of a ha- 
 bitual fouling place must of necessity be a step in the right 
 direction. In boat or punt fishing, the method of pro- 
 cedure varies somewhat upon different waters, the custom 
 in certain districts being to moor across stream, in others 
 in a slanting direction. All we have to say upon this 
 point is, that the great consideration at all times should 
 be how to disturb the water as little as possible. A con- 
 stant surging against the stationary boat cannot fail to 
 act detrimentally as regards sport in most circumstances. 
 In fishing from the bank, a tolerably stiff and strong 
 rod should be employed, so as to have power over the 
 quarry when it exhibits a strong and determined desire 
 to retire into some thorny retreat in the bank beneath 
 your feet. The novice quickly advances, upon a few 
 experiences of this nature, in the piscatorial path of 
 knowledge. The first impulse of the inexperienced is to 
 extend the rod over the shoulder, and move backwards, 
 so as to end matters speedily by extracting the hooked 
 fish from his element. Matters take a sudden turn, how- 
 
66 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 ever, the fish running in to inspect some festooned re- 
 treat. Here he speedily entwines the line in so effective 
 a manner that all communication with his newly found 
 acquaintance is cut off, and when matters stand thus, the 
 cutting process is generally applied to the reel line as a 
 closing act in the scene.* To laud an extra heavy fish 
 with a limber rod would be well nigh an impossibility 
 where the surroundings are unfavorable. The correct 
 way to play a fish from the bank, in a powerful current, 
 or still deep, is to extend the rod over the water, whilst 
 the line is drawn in as rapidly as circumstances will ad- 
 mit; and when a staunch tool is the sustaining medium, 
 the fish cannot possibly, by anything short of a breakage, 
 effect his object. The weapons not infrequently used in 
 bank fishing are not only undesirably heavy and unwieldy, 
 but unnecessarily so. A red that may be handled deftly, 
 may be used to much greater advantage thau one a few 
 feet more in length. A twenty-foot rod,f whether it be 
 a salnion or merely a banking bottom rod, is a cumber- 
 some implement; that, for precision of casting and dis- 
 tance covering, as also for general utility, is easily sur- 
 passed by a modest weapon of sixteen to eighteen feet in 
 the hands of a proficient rodster. Personally, we always 
 use bottom rods full two feet below the usual average 
 length, no matter where we may be fishing. 
 
 The line is the next subject for consideration. For 
 bottom fishing generally, lines should invariably be as 
 fine, and at the same time as strong, as it is possible to 
 
 * The multiplying reel, so useful in the recovery of the line on an in- 
 coming fish, is not esteemed by English anglers. While admitting its 
 usefulness in that respect, they claim that it speedily gets out of order, 
 the cogs wearing out quickly. It is evident that the almost perfect 
 American makes have not been handled by our brother anglers over the 
 sea. The new "automatic " reel also has not been introduced to them. 
 
 t On the Lea, a river in England, rods of twenty-three feet are used by 
 bank fishermen. 
 
BOTTOM FISHING. 67 
 
 obtain them. Raw unbleached silks are infinitely stronger 
 than the ordinary bleached ones. The fine " dram " silks 
 are equal in strength, and occasionally superior, to the 
 coarser, more bulky, and heavier. With the extra fine- 
 ness of texture, it is needless for us to add the scarcity of 
 the article is found to range. 
 
 Plaited lines should always be preferred to twist, cable- 
 laid though it be; the miseries of a line always twisting 
 and curling being only equalled by the constant breaking 
 of a tender one. A line of one-half the substance of an- 
 other, if dressed in a proper manner, will be found to be 
 much stiffer and less liable to "kink." With regard to 
 color, in habitually discolored waters, green or sandy- 
 brown should be used; in fine, clear, and open waters, a 
 pale gray or cloud color is the best tint. 
 
 No more weights or sinkers must be employed than can 
 possibly be avoided. The same observation also applies 
 to the float. A cork should never be used when it may 
 be effectually substituted by a quill. Lastly, never use 
 even a quill when no float is really needed. We have 
 oftentimes made a first-rate float of a moderate-sized leaf; 
 a sycamore, chestnut, birch, or oak tree, when so situated 
 as to extend over the water, offers admirable facilities for 
 this. A worm, fly, maggot, or what-not is attached in 
 the usual way upon a slightly- weighted gut-line. A leaf 
 is then procured, the shank being split up the center 
 carefully until the middle of the leaf is reached. The 
 " tack " (just below a knot) is then inserted in the in- 
 cision, which is now closed, and occasionally it may be, 
 for better security, wrapped with a scrap of silk or waxed 
 thread. The leaf is fitted, and found not only to act well 
 as a float, but also in the midst of a bright sunlit water 
 to materially aid the guile, by shading the tackle. The 
 least possible stir or movement is made manifest by the 
 flat and flexible leaf. Porcupine quills are the best floats 
 for all-round work. For heavy water and large fish it is 
 
68 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 sometimes necessary to have these mounted with a little 
 cork, but no conspicuously bright coloring matter should 
 be used in its finish. A speck of bright color (say vermil- 
 ion) certainly aids the eye when placed upon the tip of 
 the quill, so as to project out of the water; indeed, this 
 is a wrinkle that every float-fisher is not acquainted with. 
 The new luminous * floats are very useful for special pur- 
 poses, though we cannot say we think it probable they 
 will ever become generally used, float-fishing in the dark 
 not being at present a popular pastime. 
 
 The runners appended to the float should be of rubber; 
 these, being flexible, fit any ordinary-sized quill. The 
 non-flexible runners are a nuisance, and should ever be 
 avoided. They are always cracking when dry, and are 
 highly inconvenient in more ways than one. 
 
 The best and strongest gut (silkworm for piscatorial 
 purposes) is round and smooth, clear as window-glass, or 
 as the limestone spring. The milky-white glaring gut, so 
 often met with, should be studiously avoided. No fair 
 means will take out the white glare from a batch of 
 pearly gut. Boiling dye will effect the purpose, but the 
 strength and sterling usefulness of the stuff will have so 
 deteriorated as to render it practically worthless. The 
 opaque silkworm gut is naturally found to be inferior in 
 point of strength; four lengths of the transparent and 
 clear variety are found to be equal to five of the white 
 and brighter kind of similar thickness. Spanish gut is 
 superior to that of either India or China. The most dis- 
 reputable is the Sicilian. This is found to be flat and 
 tender, as also so white and opaque as to be of little util- 
 ity. The Indian variety is especially noted for its exces- 
 sive length. This exceeds, usually, all its compeers. The 
 color is yellow, even when prepared and uncoated. No 
 dying will permanently alter the shade. As regards 
 
 * A gla6s float, containing phosphorus. 
 
BOTTOM FISHI3TG. 69 
 
 strength, it ranks below the Spanish and China gut. 
 Good round and sound gat should stand a strain of from 
 two and a half to five pounds, according to the thickness, 
 without jjarting. Before joinings are made, the ends 
 should be moistened between the lips, so as to admit of 
 its bedding down, and to avoid splittings; otherwise, dry 
 old gut will " spilch," and break at the knots when 
 forming. 
 
 When gut is imported, it is coated with a thin, brittle, 
 yellow skin, which is easily removed. This is its raw or 
 unbleached state. We may here observe that often too 
 much doctoring is practised in baking, boiling, bleaching, 
 and unbarking the raw substance. A large class are pre- 
 judiced in favor of what they term a beautiful white tint. 
 This taste, unfortunately, the fish do not share; conse- 
 quently, are not so easily to be duped through its 
 medium. 
 
 In clear water the gut used should be either stained a 
 faint sky-blue, so as to offer no lighter or darker contrast 
 to its back-ground, or be left a transparent tint, undis- 
 tinguishable in the water. Some rivers are habitually 
 clear, others slightly this or that shade. The view of the 
 gut line should in each individual case tally. Our ances- 
 tors used sorrel, brown, and white, or even black hair; 
 but when used under similar circumstances with gut pre- 
 pared as above, the tender, hollow hair is found far be- 
 hind the age. We have, however, dealt already fully 
 with the relative virtues of gut and hair. 
 
 Bottom reels are made of almost every conceivable va- 
 riety and substance. We are inclined to give preference 
 to the Nottingham * spring check. This check or 
 
 * The Nottingham reel "is usually made of wood, and in two pieces, 
 the barrel of the reel upon which the line is wound turning upon a 
 spindle fixed in the center of the portion which forms the immovable 
 part of the reel. This is contrived so that the barrel will run with the 
 utmost freedom at the lightest touch." The above description is given 
 by Francis Francis, Esq., Angling Editor of " The London Field." 
 
70 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 "click" action is put on at will by a movable spring, 
 something after the style of the old spring stop reels. In 
 the varying methods of angling now followed, a tool that 
 can be regulated to any degree of action required is far 
 preferable to a set contrivance, admitting of no alteration 
 at will. These winches* are now made with steel centers. 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 PIKE FISHING. 
 
 SPINNING,! THE R0D -^^ND LINE; ARTIFICIAL BAITS, HOW TO USE 
 
 THEM; FISHING STORY; LIVE BAIT FISHTNG; FLY AND 
 
 "FROG" FISHING. 
 
 The greedy, ferocious, and excessively gluttonous na- 
 ture of this, " the fell tyrant of the liquid plain," has 
 been pointed out by angling authors both ancient and 
 modern. We shall, therefore, confine ourselves to the 
 most approved methods now in use for its capture. Tl^ese 
 may be enumerated thus, viz. : Spinning, Live Bait, and 
 Dead Gorge Fishing or Trolling, and Fly Fishing. There 
 is scarcely any limit to the expedients adopted for killing 
 pike; frogs, mice, worms, etc., in fact, bait of every 
 
 * " Winch " and " reel " are synonymous terms with English anglers. 
 The former seems to be applied to metal reels only, and the latter to 
 wooden ones, or more particularly to the one used by Nottingham 
 fishermen, which, however, is occasionally made of metal. 
 
 + "Spinning," as described in this chapter, is performed by casting 
 the bnit, natural or artificial, on the rod, from the banks of a stream. 
 The English method of doing this is somewhat similar to that used by 
 the striped-bass casters of this country, which is known as the Cutty- 
 hmik style. The rod. however, is given more of a sweeping movement, 
 and the bait, in the act of easting, is pendant live to eight feet from the 
 rod-tip. The Thames or Trent method is to coil the line at the feet of 
 
PIKE PISHING. 71 
 
 conceivable description meets with due appreciation when 
 these fish are on the run; toads, it would appear, are the 
 only creatures they reject, but a dab of yellow paint will 
 make even these presentable. The spinning art, when 
 skillfully practised is, beyond all dispute, the most success- 
 ful system for extracting these fish; we say practised 
 skillfully, not because skill is actually requisite to success, 
 but merely to point out the difference between the ancient 
 and rude hand trolling, and really scientific spinning, 
 with rightly adapted tools and tackle. 
 
 Spinning with the natural bait claims the precedence; 
 it is practised as follows: A small fish (dace, roach, etc.), 
 of three or four ounces is taken and placed upon a flight 
 of hooks (the method of arrangement varying according 
 to the particular nature of the flight used); one of the 
 most simple and best we give upon plate III., fig. 5. 
 There are other flights, consisting chiefly of a number of 
 small triangles, the use of which we cannot commend. 
 Accidents are far too rife with substantial hooks to make 
 it worth one's while to risk anything by the insufficiency 
 of one's appointments. The complicated nature of most 
 flights renders it extremely difficult for the novice to bait 
 
 the caster, or wind it around the left hand as described on a previous 
 page of the text, or, " by gathering up the line in the palm of the hand 
 by an up and down motion, something like that of a weaver with a shut- 
 tle." The Nottingham style of casting from the reel is identical with 
 that in use by the float fishermen on the salt water bays and estuaries 
 adjacent to the city of New York. A somewhat similar method, barring 
 the use of the rod, may also be seen daily, in the white perch season, on 
 the Delaware River above tide-water. The fishers anchor their boat at 
 the head of a likely " swim " and cast their hand-lines, allowing the float 
 to drift with the current, sometimes for an hundred yards or more, until 
 the action of the float indicates the presence of a shoal of fish. The 
 fishermen, then, by quietly drawing the anchor a foot or so from the 
 bottom, allow the boat to drift down stream and then softly drop the 
 " killick," when within easy fishing distance of the perch, which are 
 gathered in great herds, as it were, to the number of thousands. We 
 have been present when a score of 1300 perch was made by three lines 
 in a morning's fishing. 
 
72 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 them properly, so as to enable them to describe the or- 
 dinary revolutions. In this tackle, no difficulty of this 
 nature is encountered. The lip-hook is inserted through 
 the upper and lower lips of the bait, so as to close the 
 mouth, the most slender hook of the triangle pierces the 
 side, leaving the larger span of hooks unencumbered; 
 lastly, the tail of the bait is made to form a slight curve 
 by inserting the end hook, so as to cause the bait to swim 
 in a wobbling sort of way. At certain times this motion 
 proves very effective in alluring the quarry. The state- 
 ments bearing upon this point, given in another chapter 
 (trout spinning), apply with equal significance to pike 
 spinning. Pike flights may, however, be used perfectly 
 straight, as by the use of a small F. G-.* spinner and 
 swivel combined, which can be placed a yard or so above 
 the bait, perfect action is secured, the lure revolving well, 
 and in a direct line, a great desideratum in bait spinning, 
 especially in the case of the rapacious pike, as he is even 
 more apt than other species to miss the whirling turn- 
 tailed bait. , 
 
 A diagram of this very useful metal appendage to the 
 midwater fisher, is given on plate III., fig. 4. 
 
 The rod for pike is now made little more than one-half 
 the former dimensions; the cumbersome tool of from fif- 
 teen to twenty feet is being discarded in favor of a more 
 efficient implement of about nine or ten feet. The old 
 swing movement for getting out the bait is quite sur- 
 passed by w r hat may be termed the spring motion; the 
 fisherman's right angle is reduced by this change, his 
 general style and comfort vastly improved, and success 
 rendered more sure. To the uninitiated, the idea of 
 reducing the rod would imply a corresponding lessening 
 of the power of the rodster; but this is exactly the reverse 
 
 * For the " Fishing Gazette " spinner (see plate III.), an examination 
 of which will explain its construction more lucidly than a diffuse de- 
 scription. 
 
PIKE FISHING. 73 
 
 of the actual result, for instead of limiting this power 
 over general surroundings, it largely augments it. In 
 the first instance, his casting powers are greatly increased, 
 he being able to fish a much larger area from a given 
 standing point, the precise limits varying according to 
 the amount of practical skill shown by the operator. 
 The possible limit with the old long rods was forty yards, 
 or thereabouts; but since the introduction of the short 
 ones, the cast that fails to exceed sixty yards is considered 
 nothing extraordinary. Secondly, the angler retains far 
 greater command over the bait with a short rod; the large 
 size of the upright rings, which are less in number, offer 
 comparatively little resistance to the free passage of the 
 line, thus causing the bait by leverage to carry out pro- 
 digious lengths of line, which would, under the tradi- 
 tional system, have been considered simply impossible. 
 The style of using these modern pike rods is founded 
 upon the fork stick principle of trolling; the weighted 
 natural or heavy artificial is attached to a limp though 
 strong plaited silk line, which is usually undressed, being 
 simply waxed to take out "kinks" and "turns." This 
 is mounted upon a large Nottingham reel, which is 
 arranged to run freely. 
 
 When these appliances are procured, the result some- 
 times exceeds the most sanguine anticipations. The very 
 largest fish are held more under control, and are much 
 more easily landed when a short and sturdy rod is employ- 
 ed; whilst as regards wear, our readers need not be told 
 that the more timber used, and the more lanky the im- 
 plement is, the less is its durability. * 
 
 With regard to the artificial baits for pike, much might 
 be said. Their variety is endless, ranging from the 
 clumsy-looking spoon to the gaudy glass bait. Speaking 
 
 * Our author's ideas of trolling and casting rods approach nearer the 
 American standard, than those of anv other English writer on angling. 
 4 
 
74 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 of spoon baits reminds us that there has of late been an 
 improvement of importance in their construction, we 
 refer to the " Colorado." At the hollow side of the 
 dished metal is placed a barrel-shaped lead upon a wire, 
 around which lead and wire revolves the spoon itself, it 
 having a pair of flanges at its upper or narrow end. The 
 conspicuous triangle fixed at the extremity is partially 
 hid by a tag or tassel of vermilion wool, secured by flat 
 silver tinsel. Its action when in the water is really ad- 
 mirable, and great things are reported as having been 
 accomplished since its comparatively recent introduction. 
 We never did believe in " spooning," but since the inven- 
 tion of the " Colorado "* our sentiments have undergone 
 somewhat of a change. For the capture of the very 
 heaviest pike in river or lake this bait is particularly well 
 adapted. Metal casts of fry mounted in various ways are 
 now to be obtained. In many of these much ingenuity 
 is displayed, as notably in the different makes of " Greg- 
 ory" baits, some of which spin upon their own axis; 
 these for rotary motion are perhaps unequalled, others 
 being jointed and thus flexible, while others again are 
 stationary, relying as per precedent upon the upper swivels 
 for freedom in spinning. Many of the above are colored 
 with a view to the effect when in action. Other baits are 
 representations of some distinct species of fish, as gud- 
 geon, dace, etc. These are for the most part constructed 
 from gutta-percha, rubber, etc. They are often much 
 esteemed when stationary; they may please the human 
 eye, but fail to meet with due appreciation from the fish 
 when in action. The general curved shape of the body 
 acts very detrimentally in causing the line to describe a 
 spiral or corkscrew flight, which is calculated to miss what 
 fish may deign to essay an acquaintance. The " Phan- 
 
 * The spinning baits named by the author are not in general use in 
 America; the exceptions being the " Phantom " (the Imbrie improved), 
 and the Devon or Angle. 
 
PIKE FISHING. 75 
 
 torn " is another bait not well adapted for rough work, 
 owing to its liability to sustain damage from the keen 
 teeth of the pike. 
 
 The best "artificials" to rely upon, when "naturals" 
 run short, we give as follows, viz., the "Gregory," "Clip- 
 per," "Wheeldon," "Windsor Bee," and "Excelsior." 
 Most anglers have a marked partiality for heavy brass 
 gimp, of thrice the necessary thickness. Gimp should be 
 no thicker or stronger than is absolutely requisite, and 
 should be of the best quality, having the finest raw silk 
 centre. In common gimp, which is disposed of by the 
 manufacturers by weight, the wire is much too thick, the 
 proportion of silk being less accordingly. It is, how- 
 ever, made very fine and strong indeed, of very little more 
 substance than stout lake gut. The best gimp is usually 
 made bright, and excessively fine in wire. Before this is 
 used it should be slightly stained with logwood and cop- 
 peras, with just enough of the latter to darken the dye. 
 This removes the glare, and effects a great improvement. 
 Having advised as to the equipment of the pike spinners, 
 we shall now proceed to lay down a few directions as to 
 the most artistic and successful method of using them 
 that commonly followed upon the Thames. The line 
 should not be worked from the reel nor yet from the 
 feet,* as commonly practised, but from the left hand, 
 around the fourth finger and thumb, off which it is 
 wound rapidly crosswise. The motion thus conveyed to 
 the bait works it well if rightly accomplished; some 
 anglers simply haul in the line by instalments into the 
 palm of the hand, but this is anything but sportsman- 
 like. The bait is delivered to the spot desired in the 
 following manner: — Line to about half the length of the 
 rod is let out with the bait ready fixed at its extremity, 
 the length of line required for the proposed cast being 
 
 * From coils on the ground. 
 
76 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 first -wound round the distended thumb and finger in the 
 manner above described; this done, the bait must be put 
 in motion, a backward and forward leverage is given 
 which should be rapidly increased, and now an effective 
 springing jerk of the rod, just as the bait reaches the ex- 
 treme backward point, sends it out quickly, taking off 
 the line from the disengaged hand in its flight. The 
 point of the rod must be held so as to admit of the bait 
 traveling as near as possible in midwater. When the 
 rodster experiences a tug at the extremity of his line he 
 should strike instantly, but firmly; too heavy striking, 
 it must be remembered, is highly dangerous; it imperils 
 the safety of the tackle as well as the fish. A clumsy or 
 too impetuous striker will frequently break away hooks 
 and trace, or, failing that, the hold of the, hooks from the 
 mouth of the fish; it is therefore incumbent upon the 
 tyro to exercise a little judicious care and calculation in 
 driving home his steel into the bony jaws of the fish. 
 Practice and experience are the mentors upon which the 
 young asjnrant must rely for proficiency in these matters. 
 Rare sport is sometimes afforded by well-conditioned fish 
 when lightly hooked and handled, and many instances 
 are on record of fierce fights; not that the pike is noted 
 for gameness, rather the reverse, but in exceptional cases 
 when an extraordinary fish is struck great sport is often 
 afforded. 
 
 The largest pike we ever killed was taken upon a stout 
 salmon spinning trace, the flight being mounted upon 
 the heaviest gimp. We were fishing in preserved water in 
 a neighboring western county, and had hooked a pickerel 
 a few odd pounds weight; when we were about to land 
 the fish, the gleaming broadside of some larger relation 
 of the family shone in the background, an instant, 
 and then a heavy tug demonstrated the fact that our 
 possession of the prey was disputed. Comprehending 
 the situation, we let out line with the earnest hope that 
 
PIKE FISHING. 77 
 
 this considerate exhibition of feeling would meet with 
 due appreciation; nor were we disappointed, for after the 
 lapse of a few minutes, which, under the circumstances 
 it must be admitted, seemed rather long ones, the fun 
 began. We were in sole possession of a light punt upon 
 an extensive sheet of water, and thus, having plenty of 
 sea room, we were rather confident as to the result. At 
 the first gentle touch of the rod, the fish ran out fully 
 half-a-hundred yards of line, at one impetuous rush, des- 
 pite the heavy strain placed upon the rod. A heavier 
 reserve was now put on the remaining portion of line 
 through the medium of the rod, but here we discovered 
 our command over him to be considerably less than we 
 calculated, for such was the determination of the hooked 
 fish to explore the other side of the lake, that the punt 
 began to move in chase. To reserve the remainder of our 
 line would tend to aggravate the nuisance, to let it run 
 meant disaster. "Whilst we hesitated we unconsciously 
 stopped further supply of line, of which fact we were 
 forcibly reminded by the rapid motion of the punt as it 
 progressed across the water. Just as we had resolved to 
 break away from the fish he suddenly doubled, making 
 straight for the punt — we hauled in the loose line in coils 
 at our feet as actively as was practicable under the cir- 
 cumstances — the next instant he dashed off with renewed 
 vigor at right angles, and we again strained heavily 
 upon every foot he stole, despite which our whole stock 
 was all but spent before he again turned. For more than 
 an hour was this operation of hauling in and paying out 
 line repeated without ceasing, at the end of which time 
 the final tragic end seemed as remote as ever. By this 
 time several stable functionaries from the adjoining man- 
 sion arrived upon the scene, among whom a learned con- 
 troversy ensued as to the probable weight and breed of a 
 fish capable of towing a man and a boat with impunity. 
 As the fish swerved along shore in their immediate prox- 
 
78 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 imity all dispute suddenly dropped, and we observed, 
 what had previously escaped our notice, namely, a large 
 stable fork in the possession of a bandy-legged individual 
 who had stepped forward, fork in hand, ready for action. 
 Before we could interfere a wild thrust was made, which, 
 however, fell short of the mark, as may very easily be 
 imagined ; nevertheless it well nigh ended the fight, the 
 terrified fish making for less dangerous quarters at a rate 
 that eclipsed all previous exploits, the pressure upon the 
 line availing little beyond keeping the snout of the fish 
 above the water's surface. After this final rush a reaction 
 set in, the fish for the first time showing signs of fatigue, 
 which speedily developed into complete exhaustion. To 
 consummate the capture by gaffing and boarding was 
 now a very easy matter, and successfully accomplished. 
 The weight of the fish proved to be thirty-seven pounds 
 and three-quarters. It was preserved and cased by the 
 owner of the water, to whom it was preseuted, with the 
 tail of the pickerel protruding from its extended jaw. 
 
 Live baiting is another favorite method of fishing for 
 pike. The tackle requisite for this style of angling is 
 shown on plate II., fig. 6. This is used with or without 
 the barrel-lead. As the name implies, the bait is used 
 alive, the small hook on the triangle is inserted carefully 
 in the root of the back fin, the large span of hooks being 
 loose at the side. The lure is then allowed to roam at 
 will. It is necessary to employ none but the finest and 
 best stained gimp. The reel line, too, should be both 
 fine and strong, the lighter in weight the better. The 
 line usually used in live-baiting for Thames trout is 
 seldom much thicker than a piece of ordinary thread. 
 The requisite substance and strength vary with the 
 weight of the fish the line is intended to hold. The line 
 referred to in roach-fishing would answer equally well for 
 pike of sixteen pounds and under, as it would for Thames 
 trout. The actual dead-weight sustaining powers range 
 
PIKE FISHIXG. 79 
 
 exactly double, when the substance is an animated body- 
 in water ; thus, if a gut line will just raise three pounds 
 from the dead level of the ground, it will hold a fish of 
 six pounds in water, and this difference is still greater 
 when a pliable rod is the sustaining medium. It is 
 therefore the greatest folly to employ needlessly powerful 
 tackle even for pike. 
 
 We, nevertheless, advise the use of tackle needful for 
 the largest fish of the species you may be angling for, 
 that are known to be present in the length fished. To 
 omit so doing would be to remove all prospects of landing 
 a good fish ; but exaggeration is rife in these matters, 
 and the popular idea is, that the most powerful tackle is 
 essential for successful pike-fishing, of whatever nature 
 it may be. But to return, the movements of the roving 
 bait must be carefully observed where practicable ; and 
 if, owing to the state of the water, this is not possible, 
 the rodster must follow the movements of the bait by the 
 feel conveyed by the line, and care must be taken not to 
 distress the bait, or it will soon be exhausted. When a 
 fish takes the bait, a minute or two should be allowed 
 him to gorge it. In some localities the custom is to use 
 a single gimp hook, which is attached to the upper lip of 
 the bait ; this, however, causes it to move in an unnatural 
 way, with the tail uppermost, and cannot be said to equal 
 the method previously described. 
 
 We now come to fly-fishing for pike. That these fish 
 would take a natural fly is even less probable than in the 
 case of salmon. A jack will come with evident gusto at 
 a bird, just as he would at a rat, therefore it is essential 
 that the artificial should be of very unusual proportions. 
 Discarded salmon flies, of large size, render good account 
 amongst pike; a regular pike-fly, generally speaking, is a 
 clumsy combination of peacock eye or sword feathers, 
 cock pheasant's hackles, gaudy Berlin wool or worsted, 
 gilt or silver tinsel, and glass beads; the peacock doing 
 
80 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 service for wings, pheasant for legs, beads for eyes, and 
 the remainder forming the body.* 
 
 The largest fish seem most partial to the fly ; whether 
 it is that they are hunger-bitten, or whether they rise in 
 the spirit of wantonness, we cannot pretend to say. 
 From the position of the eyes, situated as they are upon 
 the top of the head, he naturally sees more directly above 
 than around. In the northern lakes, pike are very often 
 taken with the fly wherever they abound, whenever they 
 are in the humour for rising, for like all other species, 
 they have their off and on terms, even when in season. 
 
 In a work devoted solely to the more scientific methods 
 of taking fish, it may appear out of place to refer to what 
 are sometimes deemed repulsive styles or systems. We 
 would, however, crave the forbearance of those of our 
 readers whose sentiments may savor of these, for a brief 
 space, as we cannot- omit a few remarks upon frog-fishing 
 for pike, which is held in such high repute by veteran 
 pike-fishers. The style most in vogue is to work the frog 
 as a live bait; the hook, which should be of special length, 
 strength, and size, should be passed through the bottom 
 lip, and under the stomach, the bend being then secured 
 to the thigh of one of the hind legs by a scrap of silk of 
 the right shade. This is conveyed through an opening 
 in the foliage on the banks of the water, a few odd feet 
 only of the line being out. When through, a gentle 
 swing motion is described by the line and the lure, a 
 sudden lurch or spring being given when at some dis- 
 tance, to reach the spot desired; the line, as before stated, 
 
 *Mr. W. Thomson, a practical angler, residing in Barric, Ont., in a 
 communication to "The American Angler," states, that upon ob- 
 serving a flock of young ducks disappear, one by one, when feeding 
 along the edges of the weeds, and suspicious that a pike was the cause, 
 he procured a bunch of greenish yellow Berlin wool anil fashioned it 
 into the rude shape of a duckling. With this clumsy lure, he soon 
 landed a well-conditioned pike of uearly fourteen pounds. 
 
Plate 3. 
 
 IMPROVED PATERNOSTER 
 
 TACKLE CASE 
 
 81 
 
PIKE FISHIKG. 83 
 
 being wound round the distended thumb and finger. 
 Another plan is to dape and sink alternately with this 
 bait, which is also very deadly. Artificial frogs are now 
 to be had that answer the purpose almost equally with 
 the not always to be procured living ones. The legs upon 
 these are so constructed as to admit of life-like action 
 when in the water. 
 
 CHAPTEE VII. 
 SPINNING FOR TROUT. 
 
 THE THAMES AND TRENT STYLE ; SPINNING IN DISCOLORED AND 
 CLEAR WATER ; MINNOW FLIGHTS, HOW TO USE THEM ; AR- 
 TIFICIAL BAITS ; THE ROD, LINE, REEL ; FLIGHT CANS. 
 
 If it is important to know the haunts of the trout 
 when fly-fishing, it is doubly so when trolling or spinning, 
 as then no circling eddy betrays the habitual feeding 
 grounds. In small streams . and rapid brooks, however, 
 this is not of nearly so great importance. Large fish gen- 
 erally locate in some secluded curl, not far from a deep 
 hole, whither they return upon being disturbed or 
 "knocked off the feed." The best and most likely places 
 upon the whole river's length are sure to be tenanted by 
 the largest fish, the second best fish are in the immediate 
 vicinity, and take up the position of the extracted heavier 
 one. When large trout are killed upon the open stream, 
 it is a sign of their being out on the "forage," and great 
 execution ought then to be effected. There are quite as 
 many grades of minnow-spinners as there are of fly- 
 fishers, ranging from the old method of trawling or trol- 
 ling with heavy primitive tackle iu discolored water, to 
 the scientific Thames and Trent style, which is to stand 
 
84 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 at a weir or waterfall, and dexterously work the bait in 
 the surging boil of water, near and far away, a fifty yards 
 cast beiug deemed nothing at all wonderful ; but distance 
 is uot of so much importance as is a thorough command 
 of the line, which should be gathered by the disengaged 
 left hand, so that no slack hangs about anywhere. To 
 acquire the art of casting should be the iirst care of the 
 rodster, whether he aspires to bait or fly. When able to 
 pitch the bait fifteen or twenty yards, and from wrist 
 motion to gently insert into water in a way that will not 
 have the effect of disturbing the feeding fish, he may con- 
 gratulate himself on having acquired the leading qualifi- 
 cation requisite to become an adept in the spinning art. 
 
 The water that happens to be nearest the rodster should 
 be fished first, afterwards the centre and opposite sides, 
 and lastly, the obscure and more difficult spots to reach. 
 There the best fish are to be taken. The parts usually 
 to be preferred are the heads and tails of streams ; the 
 few yards of turbulent water at the head of the stream 
 being generally the most productive. 
 
 The speed at which the bait is drawn should be gradu- 
 ated in accordance with the state and color of the water. 
 For instance, in the event of the water being thick and 
 turbid, a much slower motion should be given to the bait, 
 just sufficient to spin it, in fact. The bait, Avhether 
 natural or artificial, should work freely at the slightest 
 pull in slow running water; upon the other hand, in the 
 clearest possible water, the lure should be brought round 
 at a moderately steady sweep, not with a jerking motion. 
 A sudden stoppage in clear water has the effect rather of 
 alarming than appeasing the natural suspicions of the 
 acute and well-schooled heavy fish; but, in highly dis- 
 colored water, the ''halting'' or jerking motion is abso- 
 lutely necessary to enable the fish both to see and seize 
 the bait. Behind a projecting rock or bank, where the 
 water is comparatively quiet, no matter whether shallow 
 
SPINNING TOE TEOUT. 85 
 
 or deep, the fish congregate, as the thick, swollen streams 
 cannot be stemmed, and are therefore avoided. Here 
 the fish fall an easy prey to the mid- water or minnow- 
 fisher, as what is known as minnow daping or dabbing 
 (i.e., giving the bait the slow, whirling motion of a sickly 
 fish) often produces exceptionally heavy takes, even when 
 the water is bank full, and, figuratively speaking, as 
 thick as a "pea soup." But this method of extracting 
 fish at an. undue advantage we detest, as being unsports- 
 manlike in the extreme. We have frequently observed 
 individuals (we do not say fishermen) upon hooking a 
 fish in such circumstances, with the strongest possible 
 tackle, literally turn tail upon the water by shouldering 
 the rod and walking away until the hooked fish b ' flaps " 
 high and dry on the bank. It is some consolation, how- 
 ever, that these gentlemen (?) occasionally catch a "tar- 
 tar" in the shape of a hidden stump, root, or pile, in 
 which case the diversion is pleasantly varied by a "flap" 
 or snap of the tackle, and total loss of bait. 
 
 We do not encourage minnow fishing in temporarily 
 discolored water. It is too sure a way for real sport. Ab- 
 solute certainty in the pursuit of game destroys the keen- 
 ness, and takes off the edge, so to speak, of one's feeling 
 of enjoyment when success is in no way dependent upon 
 personal skill. With the finest tackle, in clear water and 
 weather, there is more real satisfaction to be derived from 
 the successful capture of a fine, well-fed fish than in forty 
 such taken by unfair means. The minnow-spinner, in 
 clear and rapid streams, should always, where practicable, 
 cast up-stream, bringing the bait across and down by a 
 judicious working of the rod from the wrist. As a rule, 
 drawing against stream should be avoided. It is un- 
 natural for a deformed or sickly fish to attempt any feat 
 of the kind; and not only this, when spinning the natural 
 minnow the force of the current causes the bait to assume 
 a very unnatural attitude in the water, especially when 
 
86 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 the movable lip hook is used; therefore, up-hill spiuuing 
 should be avoided. The angler should ever remember 
 that the secret of success lies mainly in the motion of the 
 spinning bait. The theory of bait spinning is founded 
 upon the well-known propensities of the heavy fish for 
 weakly fry, which accounts for the otherwise unaccount- 
 able fact of the well spun bait being seized from the very 
 midst of a shoal of living minnows. The peculiar forms 
 of many substitutes for natural minnows act detrimen- 
 tally as regards hooking fish. Take the old turn-tailed 
 family of artificials for example. Watch the peculiar 
 motions of a specimen as you slowly bring it through the 
 clear water. You observe that it describes a kind of 
 corkscrew motion. This, especially when accomplished 
 rapidly, will entice fish far oftener than it will hook them; 
 long practice dictates that nine "runs" make one cap- 
 ture, through the instrumentality of these curved or turn- 
 tailed " artificials." What is needed is a perfectly straight 
 bait, when an artificial is employed, no matter whether 
 the spinning propellers or Archimedean flies be at the 
 head or the tail. So far as this is concerned it will then 
 take a direct "pigeon " flight through the water, moving 
 an equal number of fish, whilst being more effective in 
 hooking them. In natural minnow-spinning this is not 
 of so much importance, the fish that "goes" for the 
 natural bait without getting hooked, will more frequently 
 come again, not meeting with so hard a substance. The 
 minnow flight we have found preferable to those generally 
 in use, we give on plate III., fig. 1. The minnow is 
 placed upon the tackle in the following manner: First, 
 the lead is inserted in the mouth of the fish, the lips be- 
 ing closed by the movable lip hook. This done the bait 
 is pierced through from the one side to the other with 
 the large hook, which should be so placed as to keep the 
 lead well up in the minnow's back. Lastly, one of the 
 pair of tail hooks should be made to slightly curl the tail 
 
SPINNING FOE TKOUT. 87 
 
 of the minnow. When this arrangement of hooks is 
 correctly inserted the bait is more secure, and will he 
 found to last longer than when mounted in the older and 
 general style. 
 
 The most objectionable ''flights" are those consisting 
 of a number of small hooks, whether triangular or other- 
 wise; the ease with which they are broken renders them 
 an abomination when used amongst weighty fish. An- 
 other arrangement, which is also very good, whilst being 
 very simple to fit up for use, is the old leaded wire tackle, 
 which, in lieu of the two side flanges, is fitted with a tiny 
 "Fishing Gazette" spinner, plate III., fig. 3. The bait 
 is mounted merely by thrusting the weighted wire down 
 the mouth, the position being rendered secure by means 
 of the side hooks, which are to be partly hidden in the 
 minnow. For strong currents this tackle is well adapted, 
 its action in the water being perfectly straight and nat- 
 ural; for more open streams the first referred to is recom- 
 mended, as being all that can be reasonably desired. In 
 most waters the natural minnow is preferable, when pro- 
 curable. In some streams the skillfully used artificial 
 will, however, not only turn over as many fish, but will 
 kill even more than the natural, the hooks upon it hav- 
 ing greater play, while being hid in a measure by better 
 spinning action. Amongst the many " artificials " now 
 in use, we may mention a few of those that are most dis- 
 tinguished for deadly cnialities. The "Devon" or "Totnes" 
 (improved pattern), the "Derby Trout Killer," the "Uni- 
 versal Killer," and "Foster's Excelsior." The first named 
 is an old reliable bait, originally introduced by a clever 
 Devonshire fisherman. Improvements have lately been 
 made in its construction, which renders it perhaps one of 
 the most effective baits for "all round" fishing that has 
 hitherto appeared. The bait is heavier metalled, German 
 silver being substituted for the plated brass formerly 
 used. The side flanges are larger and heavier, which 
 
88 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 materially increases the spinning powers, and altogether 
 the changes effected have considerably added to its value, 
 and are likely to enhance still more its already extensive 
 rejDutation. The "Derby Trout Killer" was introduced in 
 Derbyshire about the same period as the "Totnes" was in 
 Devon. This bait is more especially adapted for fine 
 waters. It is a capital bait for scientific fishing, as, for 
 instance, in the middle of a hot day in July or August, 
 when the flies, to avoid the sun's rays secrete themselves 
 in the shades of the neighboring foliage, and the fish 
 refuse to rise in consequence; then does the "Trout 
 Killer " distinguish himself in circumstances when spin- 
 ning would appear the most unlikely style or system of 
 fishing. So effective is this bait in some localities that it 
 is there known as the "Derby kill-devil." The hooks 
 and bait are delicately made, the better to adapt them 
 for this method of fishing. The finest trace and swivel 
 are essential to success in these circumstances. 
 
 The "Universal Killer" and the "Excelsior" are both 
 metal baits (the latter solid), the former being an exceed- 
 ingly "natty" little thing, well suited for rough and 
 turbulent brooklets, the tributaries of our main trouting 
 streams. The spinning power is placed at the tail of this 
 bait. This is considered an especial advantage by some 
 anglers, as trout frequently "come" at the head of the 
 minnow. 
 
 The special advantages in the " Excelsior" are the extra 
 weight — it being almost double that of any bait of the 
 same size and dimensions — which enables the tyro to spin 
 and cast with ease and success, with but little practice. 
 •Its durability adapts it for general use amongst pike, 
 perch, chub, trout, or salmon. The hooks are fixed in 
 the bait without gut, being eyed triangles of heavy metal; 
 the nuisance of hooks breaking away through faulty gut 
 is thus obviated. 
 
 Upon the choice of colors much depends, as trout are 
 
SPIKNIKG FOR TROUT. 89 
 
 partial to a change in this respect. Take as an illustra- 
 tion — upon a recent occasion having been requested to 
 test the killing qualities of a new artificial, we had re- 
 paired to a famous brooklet, and had succeeded in creeling 
 some four brace of good fish from a confined length of a 
 hundred and fifty yards, which was the extent of our 
 permit. All further dealings were ignored after this be- 
 ing accomplished, though we had moved many more fish 
 than we had taken. Something like half an hour elapsed 
 without our turning over a single fin. Upon this we put 
 another bait of a totally different shade, when in action, 
 upon the line, and commenced, and in the course of the 
 next twenty minutes five more fish were landed, when the 
 fish again turned stupid; but upon a bright metal bait, 
 without coloring matter at all, being presented to them, 
 two more brace were taken. Beyond doubt the fish's eye 
 and palate are tickled by a change occasionally. 
 
 We invariably advocate the use of the very finest possi- 
 ble tackle for mid-water fishing in low and clear water. 
 The popular belief would appear to be strongly in favor 
 of the reverse; for bait spinning under all circumstances, 
 scarcely anything can be more erroneous. The accom- 
 plished scientific troller will extract fish where it is 
 usually deemed almost an impossibility. And when an 
 incredulous bungler fails to effect a single capture, and 
 returns troutless and dispirited from the well-stocked 
 stream, fair sport will often accompany the rodster who 
 is really a master of the trolling art. 
 
 The Eod, to be suitable for spinning, should be bamboo 
 or cane, light and stiff, and from twelve to fourteen feet 
 in length for open water; but for small streams eleven or 
 twelve feet is recommended as being quite long enough. 
 The sixteen and eighteen feet double-handed rods, usually 
 advocated, are now deemed much too cumbrous, and are 
 rapidly being discarded. ' The greater utility of a single- 
 handed light rod has long been obvious to a large class of 
 
90 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 anglers, and its admirers are yearly extending. East 
 India cane is the best adapted for rods where stiffness 
 and lightness are essential, it being extremely strong, 
 though reasonably pliable. The rod we use ourselves for 
 this style of angling is but ten feet iu length, the rings, 
 however, are large and stationary, and we find no diffi- 
 culty in casting to eighty or ninety feet with a tool of 
 this description. The rings upon spinning rods should 
 all be upright and of fair size, so as to admit of a free and 
 unencumbered passage for the line when carried out by 
 the weight of the bait in casting. Where the fish do not 
 run large, an ordinary fly-rod answers admirably for 
 spinning purposes, when a short stiff top-piece is substi- 
 tuted for the slender fly-top joint, the only drawback be- 
 ing the minute loose rings, which hinder the free passage 
 of the line. 
 
 The Line should be plaited silk, waterproof, of about 
 one-half the usual thickness of a dressed fly-line; forty or 
 fifty yards are required for any water more open than 
 small brooklets, etc. Nothing is so trying to a line as 
 bait spinning; and if it is desirable to keep the line sound 
 for a long period, it should never be worked undressed 
 and unprotected, or a very short time — when constantly 
 used — will serve to rot and fray it, so as to render it unfit 
 for use. Twist or cable-laid lines are also of little utility, 
 as after a severe trial the reel frequently resembles a ball 
 of loose hemp or tow, the turn or twist having in part 
 been taken out by the spinning action of the bait. The 
 new acme wire lines are now being used for all-round fish- 
 ing, but they are best adapted for the fly. 
 
 The Reel, as in pike fishing, should be of the im- 
 proved Nottingham type. Some of these are made of 
 metal, some of wood; the best of the latter are metal- 
 bound, these are greatly to be preferred to the original 
 all-wood patterns, no inconvenience being experienced 
 from the wood swelling. The free action of these Not- 
 
SPI^KIKG FOR TROUT. 91 
 
 tingham reels is their great recommendation — practice 
 will enable the angler to work efficiently. A thorough 
 command of both rod, reel, and line is necessary to com- 
 fort in fishing. In scientific spinning a slight touch with 
 the fourth finger of the hand holding the rod is sufficient 
 to regulate the supply of line and the progress of the bait. 
 These reels are now made with a check, which is made to 
 act at the will of the rodster by the action of a small 
 movable spring. Some winches are made of ebonite for 
 spinning purposes; these are scarcely, we think, so desira- 
 ble, as they are apt to break by a fall. 
 
 Artificial baits may be safely and conveniently carried 
 in a small partitioned tin case, as they are liable to be 
 very troublesome if carelessly placed in the over-crowded 
 fly book, as when brushing through a stile, or surmount- 
 ing a gate or other obstacles, the fisher may perhaps have 
 a personal and undeniably practical experience of the 
 efficiency of his own steel, which will have anything but 
 a soothing effect upon the feelings. August is the best 
 month in the whole season for trout spinning in the 
 smaller rivers and rapid brooks, and the novice will then 
 do well to stay after sunset, and fish until twilight. 
 
92 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLES. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 WORM FISHING FOR TROUT. 
 
 ANTIQUITY OF WORM FISHING ; BUSH FISHING ; TACKLE REQUI- 
 SITE ; "TRAWLING" FOR TROUT; SCIENTIFIC WORM FISHING. 
 
 The term Worm fishing, to many minds, conveys rather 
 an obnoxious impression, anglers being as a class rather 
 apt to ignore what has for ages been considered the most 
 primitive bait for the simplest and most ancient method 
 of fishing. As a lure for trout, until a recent period, 
 the worm was but little used. We shall endeavour to 
 show that this lure may be artistically and scientifically 
 worked in clear and rapid trout streams, wherever situate. 
 
 Worm fishing in discolored water, it is well known, 
 is practicable under circumstances when other experi- 
 ments usually fail. Here the simplicity of the system 
 pursued is exemplary of the art as practised by our fore- 
 fathers ; a cork float, leaded line, large hook, and stout 
 gut, constituted the customary rig-out. In swollen 
 streams fish congregate at the circulating side eddies, 
 whether in or out of the usual water-course. Here the 
 fisherman inserts the bait, and as an undue advantage is 
 extended to the rodster by the thickened state of the 
 water, the largest and best fish by no means unfrequentl y 
 meet with an untimely end. To this unsportsmanlike 
 method we venture to assert that no true fisherman will 
 devote himself. Let there be clear water, clear weather, 
 and clear scope for observation, and man may with a 
 clear conscience pit his superior intelligence against the 
 animal instincts of the brute creation. 
 
WORM FISHIKG FOR TROUT. 93 
 
 Bush fishing,* in some localities more correctly termed 
 bush fighting, is another type of worming for trout. 
 This, as the appellation implies, is the plan adopted upon 
 well- wooded streams or brooks, which are practically in- 
 accessible to the fly- fisher. Here the angler adroitly 
 pitches his lure in every likely and unlikely looking nook, 
 behind stones, by the roots of overhanging bushes, under 
 shelving banks, etc. For the especial behoof of the nov- 
 ice we would observe that great caution should be exer- 
 cised against uselessly scaring the fish from their custom- 
 ary locations. Indiscretion in this respect will spoil all 
 chances of sport ; therefore every interposing object, as 
 bushes, etc., should be utilized, and the rodster should 
 invariably fish up stream, as by that means not only will 
 his bait act as herald in advance, but he has the addi- 
 tional advantage of being able to take note carefully of 
 the particular position tenanted by the fish, and to regu- 
 late his cast accordingly. For bush fishing a short stiff 
 rod is necessary, or it will be found next to impossible to 
 keep the fish out of mischief when hooked. It is essen- 
 tially necessary that the capture should be consummated 
 as early as is consistent with the strength of the tackle. 
 Of course there is no necessity for reviving early customs 
 by attempting to extract one's fish in the earnest style of 
 early youth, viz., at a strictly perpendicular angle. On 
 the contrary, a judicious respite may be granted when 
 circumstances permit. 
 
 The angler must never lose sight of the fact that in 
 clear water his bait is very much more distinct on its 
 merits, than when that element is discolored. It behooves 
 him, therefore, not to disturb its natural progress, which 
 is varied by the ever moving waters. Thus if the lure be 
 
 * This paragraph will at once recall to the reader the proverbial coun- 
 try bumpkin, who, with his clumsy tackle and uncannie ways, always 
 scores more fish on a trout stream than the scientific angler with his 
 perfected outfit. The boy knows the holes and bushwhacks the fish. 
 
94 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 gently dropped in a tiny eddy, its circulating motions 
 are not to be hampered and foiled by the line creating a 
 ripple and disturbance in the immediate proximity of the 
 fish upon the look-out for food. It is seldom advisable 
 to cast more than once in the same place ; when neatly 
 and carefully done, the bait will be readily seized if 
 at all. 
 
 The tackle requisite for worm fishing in clear water, 
 differs considerably from that used in what is discolored, 
 no float being used, and except in rapid torrents, "sink- 
 ers" of any description are not necessary. About a 
 yard-and-a-half of moderately thick gut is generally em- 
 ployed, at the extremity of which is placed one or more 
 Kendal or Carlisle hooks, (size, six in single, seven or 
 eight if double or treble). These should be attached to 
 the gut with cerise or rose-colored silk, so as to match 
 the bait in point of color. The hooks should be white, 
 to prevent them from shining plainly through the bait, 
 which latter should be small, lively, and of good color, 
 no matter whether it be a brandling or cockspur, or even 
 a small lob- worm, so long as it is lively and vigorous, in- 
 stead of being limp, pale, and apparently lifeless. An 
 excellent way of making really durable bottom tackle is 
 to whip a minute scrap of roach, or any other fine line, 
 upon the bare shank of the end hook, so as to form a 
 small and well-nigh invisible loop, which will be found 
 of great utility in general bottom fishing. The very finest 
 gut may be attached by means of a slip knot, without 
 even a chance of its "knocking off" at the head, as is 
 the usual result of a small amount of heavy wear. "When 
 baiting, the worm should be carefully threaded up the 
 gut, a small portion of each extremity of the bait being 
 left free, to have as natural an effect as possible. When- 
 ever a small or a solitary hook is employed, the rodster 
 will allow a moment's breathing time ere he gently strikes. 
 By this means it is more than probable that he will sue- 
 
"WORM FISHING FOE TROUT. 95 
 
 ceed in obtaining a safe anchorage amongst the side mus- 
 cles of the fish's mouth ; hut a trio of hooks, the Stewart 
 tackle, for instance, requires no such hesitation. We have 
 frequently known young anglers miss every fish they have 
 succeeded in moving during an extremely favorable 
 period, in which they might have effected much, 
 had they displayed a moderate amount of discretion and 
 aptness. 
 
 Another description of worm fishing in rapid waters, 
 is to run out a long thin line, resembling the usual blow- 
 line, in substance and weight, at the end of which a 
 couple of yards of fine gut is attached, having a worm 
 tackle fixed at its extremity. A stand is then made by 
 some suitable swim, and the bait is allowed to travel with 
 the stream. The line should be kept sufficiently straight 
 to admit of a fish being instantly struck, as the length of 
 line usually out allows amply (sometimes too long) for 
 the proper seizure of the bait. This is a fairly -good 
 method upon tolerably open water. The chief feature, 
 indeed we may say the secret of success in worm fishing, 
 in clear water, is keeping, as much as is possible, out of 
 sight. When the attention of fish is attracted by surface 
 food they are scarcely so keen as to the movements upon 
 the banks and sides of their element; but when not pre- 
 occupied in this way, their organs of sight have ample 
 scope and leisure for their full exercise. 
 
 And now we come to the more scientific style of using 
 the worm. This is practised more particularly in the 
 spring and early summer months. The bait is attached 
 to the end of a treble extra-fine fly lash, by means of a 
 worm tackle of three-hook power, when it is thrown as a 
 fly, and worked upon the "cast and draw " system of fly 
 fishing, with this difference, the bait is allowed to sink a 
 few inches after each delivery upon the water. By this 
 means, fish of the heaviest calibre are often taken. The 
 produce of a single rod, when wielded by an adept, will 
 
96 THE SCIEXTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 often exceed the joint takes of several orthodox fly fishers, 
 more especially if the said rod be assiduously worked in 
 early morn, during the first few hours of daylight, just 
 as the fish commence to move playfully, as though de- 
 monstrating pleasure at the advent of yet another day. 
 Whenever the attention of the fish is absorbed by surface 
 food, it is not advisable to fish with the worm after any 
 method, modern or ancient ; but when flies are scarce, 
 and the fish are eagerly upon the look out for what the 
 stream may produce in the shape of mid- water food, or 
 before the day's first instalments of winged insects put in 
 an appearance, the worm will do great execution. This 
 bait is inseparably connected with angling by all non- 
 practitioners of the art, but it has been as much ignored 
 in these fast-going times as it was adored by our ancestors. 
 It will admit of the fly fisher for trout pursuing his sport 
 in the teeth of circumstances adverse to the more legiti- 
 mate modes of angling. 
 
 The ordinary fly-rod and line are employed, we had 
 forgotten to observe, in conjunction with the fly cast. 
 The most favorable spots to fish are in the surging waters 
 of rivers and tiny cascades. A mountain trout stream, 
 in which are combined a continuous and natural succes- 
 sion of turbulent rapids and pellucid pools in miniature, 
 affords the very acme of perfection for the practice of 
 this particular method of angling. Owing to the small- 
 ness of the (Kendal) hooks used (JS r o. 10 being the size 
 necessary), a small split shot should be attached half-a- 
 yard or so from the bait, to give proper momentum in 
 the boil of broken waters. The lure should be drawn 
 briskly through even here, the strike of a fish being de- 
 tected instanter in these circumstances by the feel, as in 
 the various other styles of trouting in clear waters with 
 the worm. As the use of living bait is not infrequently 
 objected to on the ground of cruelty, we may state that 
 even worms have of late been added to the immense cate- 
 
GrRJTB FISHING FOR GRAYLING. 97 
 
 gory of effectual "artificials," the identical rendering 
 referred to having been found to answer in the last 
 method of "worming" described. The artificial here 
 alluded to is constructed in part from India rubber. 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 GRUB FISHING FOR GRAYLING * 
 
 GRUB BAITS FOR GRAYLING; METHODS OF USING; ANGLING REMI- 
 NISCENCE; CAMPING OUT; MAGGOT FISHING. 
 
 This method of grayling fishing has now become so 
 general, that the omission of a reference to it would 
 render incomplete a work dealing with this fish. The 
 baits now commonly used consist of the green (garden) 
 caterpillar, and its artificial, which for some unaccount- 
 able reason is designated the grasshopper; gentles, wasp 
 grubs, caddis-bait, and the larvae of all the large water- 
 flies found in their sheaths in the beds of streams; as also 
 fresh- water shrimps, and other aquatic creatures. Of 
 the larger of these grub-like forms, there are admirable 
 artificial renderings to be had; which, when used as in 
 the case of the green caterpillar, or grasshopper above 
 alluded to, with a couple of gentles upon the somewhat 
 large hook, answer wondrously well, and are often pre- 
 ferred to smaller naturals, owing to the sinking medium 
 being laid in the centre, instead of having it in the shape 
 of shot, sheet-lead, or wire, outside and in view. The 
 
 * The habitat of the American grayling is so limited, that but few of 
 our anglers have an opportunity to fish for them. The chapter is given, 
 more as an illustration of English methods than for its practical value 
 to our native rodsters. 
 5 
 
98 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 system in rogue of using these large artificial lures is to 
 attach them, tipped with gentles or wasp grubs, to the 
 thicker half of a three yards fly-cast, and throw out upon 
 cither deep or shallow scours, frequented by the grayling, 
 according to the time of year. The bait must be raised 
 and dropped rapidly and continually, after being duly 
 delivered in the required places, which should be the 
 known haunts of these fish. The line should not be 
 raised more than some four or five inches from the bot- 
 tom, as the grayling, like barbel, are given to grope for 
 food of the description reproduced in the copy. In some 
 parts a small quill float is used, being attached with a 
 wire loop at each extremity, in lieu of the ordinary run- 
 ner. By this arrangement a certain amount of freedom 
 is allowed to the line, which admits of its sliding at 
 various depths from the surface, whilst the bait has a 
 roving commission. For our own part, we have always 
 managed to use the bait comfortably without the aid of 
 one of these articles. The use of a float in clear water, 
 whilst fishing for so keen-eyed a fish as the grayling, is 
 anything but artistic or sportsmanlike. "When fish are 
 repeatedly missed, it is advisable to secure a small brown 
 twig to the line by wire, in the same way as the sliding 
 float is arranged, as this will not, especially upon densely 
 wood-lined streams, act detrimentally as regards sport. 
 The originator of the artificial grub system of grayling- 
 fishing (Hewett Wheatley) we are aware, counselled the 
 use of a float, but since the appearance of his " Rod and 
 Line," the fish have become so much more suspicious 
 and wary, that not even a senior angler can, with impu- 
 nity, transgress accepted rules without paying the pen- 
 alty in net results. When the combination of artificial 
 and natural lures is artistically worked by an adept, the 
 slaughter amongst the heavy fish, which seldom or never 
 rise, is immense. Although grayling are very partial to 
 small baits, having a small mouth, they absorb a bunch 
 
GRUB FISHING FOE GRAYLING. 99 
 
 of hooked threaded gentles, etc., with as much avidity 
 as an eel will worsted threaded worms. The best time 
 for grub-fishing for grayling is from September to Feb- 
 uary, and the most severe weather is often the best for 
 sport. 
 
 One of the brightest angling remembrances our mem- 
 ory retains, was an excursion after the grayling-time of 
 year, in December — Christmas-eve, in fact — water and 
 locality, the Derbyshire Wye, near Ambergate. Our 
 party consisted of three rods; the morning was frosty, 
 dry, and clear, the air deliciously pure and- exhilarating, 
 and the usually yielding turf was sufficiently hard to 
 considerably increase onr powers of locomotion. In the 
 midst of the whitened landscape, the river flowed as 
 tranquilly as on a long summer's day. We had arrived, 
 fitted out for grub and hopper fishing; and with a favor- 
 able prospect of sport we set to work. The fish proved 
 in excellent condition, and in feeding humor, and our 
 humor was, therefore, speedily excellent, notwithstand- 
 ing several losses of unusually heavy or subtle quarry. 
 The "permit" being well-nigh boundless, we wandered 
 far away from our starting point, and by the middle of 
 the afternoon had left our quarters and luncheon miles 
 behind, and when we assembled for a smoke and a chat, 
 each creel was found to be quite respectably weighted. 
 The fish, as is rarely the case when the water is below a 
 certain temperature, had continued to feed throughout 
 the fore and afternoon, and as there had as yet been no 
 indication of their "knocking" off, we resumed our 
 diversion, and before long had filled our panniers. 
 
 As the winter's sun had long sunk to rest, we began to 
 think of retracing our steps; but before having described 
 a third of the distance that lay before us, one of the 
 party, who was, by-the-way, a bit of an invalid, suddenly 
 discovered himself to be remarkably hungry. The third 
 rodster, being an American tourist, took upon himself 
 
100 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 the commissariat office. No human habitation appeared 
 within reasonable distance, and how onr weakly friend's 
 languishing could, be immediately satiated seemed a mys- 
 tery. We were not long, however, to be left to speculate 
 as to the nature of the expedient to be adopted. Upon 
 the clear, hard, turf, under the spreading, though now 
 stark branches of an ancient oak, the wood severed by 
 the violence of the late storms was arranged and ignited 
 by pipe-lights; some of the choice medium-sized fish 
 were split and cleaned in the silvery stream, so shortly be- 
 fore their home, spitted upon a two-pronged sapling, and, 
 in the glowing embers, were quickly done to a turn. The 
 relish with which they were eaten was significant; the 
 beautiful aroma imparted to the delicate fare by the 
 oaken embers, was simply delicious. Like the majority 
 of anglers we seldom care for our takes, after having had 
 the pleasure of extracting them; but we venture to assert 
 that the most fastidious palate would, in similar circum- 
 stances, have found their quarry, so primitively yet so 
 skilfully prepared, irresistible. Were we to state the 
 precise quantity of fish so cooked and disposed of by the 
 aid of pocket-knives upon that ever memorable Christ- 
 mas-eve, we should scarce look for full credit for the 
 statement. Let it suffice, that the intervening miles 
 rapidly disappeared under our re-invigorated footsteps, 
 through the picturesque moonlit Wye Valley, enlivened 
 by the beautiful stream, and we arrived early at our com- 
 fortable quarters, and in a state of mind and body, wdiich 
 made the pillow an elysium of repose. 
 
 Maggot and wasp grubs are often used by bottom fish- 
 ers for grayling, in a style somewhat similar to that 
 adopted in worm-fishing for coarse fish ; a quill float 
 and very fine hook and tackle being, of course, substi- 
 tuted. Skillful roach-fishers are proficients at grayling- 
 fishing with these appliances, though the fish are more 
 frequently lost than when roach is the quarry. Ground 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 101 
 
 baiting prevails as a system, but is most certainly un- 
 necessary, as, by an observant angler, the periodical 
 haunts of these gregarious fish are easily discovered. A 
 few hand sprinklings of gentles, etc., cast around the 
 baited hook answers as efficiently as whole quarts of the 
 same indiscreetly planted; indeed, these fish speedily be- 
 come satiated, and the use of ground-bait is often highly 
 detrimental to subsequent sport. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 PISCATOEIAL ENTOMOLOGY * 
 
 To be a moderately successful wielder of the rod may 
 be looked upon as a very desirable accomplishment, nay, 
 more, a laudable ambition; but beyond mere skill in 
 casting a fly, and killing and landing a fish, a little 
 rudimentary knowledge of the truly scientific, and, con- 
 sequently, most attractive part of the art, is essential, in 
 order to attain proficiency. 
 
 There are hundreds of tolerably good anglers who are 
 such indifferent entomologists as to be unable to discern 
 
 * The entomology of American fly -fishing is yet to be written. Miss 
 McBride, some years ago, contributed a few pleasing and instructive 
 articles to a weekly journal on this subject, and so far as my knowledge 
 extends, her attempt was the last one made by an American writer; but, 
 as more than two hundred years elapsed from the time of Walton to the 
 date of Roland's work on English piscatorial entomology, our angling 
 authors may be pardoned, if a decade or two elapses in the production 
 of an American text book on this fascinating subject. The notes of the 
 author are extremely interesting and instructive, and, although much of 
 the text is inapplicable to the ueeds of our native anglers, I give the 
 entire chapter on account of the practical presentation of the subject 
 matter. 
 
102 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 the difference between one species of common insect and 
 well-known fly and another; and, lacking this rudi- 
 mental knowledge of the insect world, are apt to credit 
 the fish with no greater powers of discernment than 
 themselves — a great injustice to the natural instincts of 
 the denizens of the streams. Such delusions are pro- 
 pounded by fourth-rate followers of every branch of the 
 arts and sciences. That educated English trout can and 
 do distinguish the most trivial difference in both atti- 
 tude, size, and color, is a truism well-known and readily 
 acknowledged by all fishermen of experience.* The com- 
 plicated and ever-extending fly list of the leading author- 
 ities on fly-fishing tends rather to confuse and bewilder 
 than to enlighten the youthful aspirant, leading him 
 frequently to ignore the whole as unnecessary and super- 
 fluous. 
 
 In giving the following hints on entomology as appli- 
 cable to fly-fishing, our aim is to sketch briefly and in- 
 telligibly the ordinary "standards," which are sufficiently 
 numerous, generally speaking, to attract the attention of 
 the fish when they put in an appearance. The numerical 
 strength of the flies out at one time may be said invari- 
 ably to determine the ardor with which the fish feed. 
 Thus, when the May-fly or March Brown are but scan- 
 tily "on," the Iron Blue Dun or Black Gnat, if preval- 
 ent, will kill infinitely better, simply because the whole 
 attention of the fish for the time being is centered upon 
 them, owing to their greater abundance. 
 
 The flies that form food for fish may be divided into 
 two classes, viz., the Up-winged {Ephemeridm) and Flat- 
 winged (Phryrjancidce, MuscidcB, etc.) Of the latter there 
 are many varieties, part being of the water, as are the 
 whole of the first order, the Ephemeridce family. These 
 water flies are of the greatest use to the angler, as they 
 
 * This is au open question as to American trout. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 103 
 
 rise to the surface only to fulfill their natural functions, 
 living but a few days, and ever delighting to sport on or 
 near their native element. Not so the land flies. They 
 do not habitually frequent the water, being seldom seen 
 upon it, excepting when swept there by the force of the 
 wind; hence it follows that they are rarely sufficiently 
 numerous except upon cold and windy days, or after a 
 boisterous storm. 
 
 In taking, first, the most important order of naturals 
 (the EpliemeridcB family), we deal with what has hitherto 
 been made a most intricate and formidable list of in- 
 sects, modern naturalists dividing and sub-dividing into 
 sections and sub-sections until the poet Pope's "thou- 
 sands of winged insects " threaten to descend from the 
 ideal into stern reality. Personal observations, extend- 
 ing over a period of fifty years, lead us to affirm the 
 greater part of this extensive classification to be perfectly 
 needless. There are, in fact, but four different species 
 of Up-winged insects, these forming the Epherneridce 
 family. The prevailing temperature of the atmosphere 
 and the water at the time of the larva and pupa arriving 
 at the stage of maturity, is largely instrumental in in- 
 fluencing the color, the body of the insect particularly 
 being susceptible to change from these effects. 
 
 The four species here referred to are the ordinary 
 Olive and Iron Blue Duns, the Large Browns, and the 
 May-fly or Green Drake.* 
 
 The Olive Dun makes its first appearance in February, 
 when it is known as the Blue Dun, or February Flapper. 
 It then presents a dead-lead color, the inclement weather 
 then seasonable causing the fly to assume so sombre a 
 hue. A few weeks later, if the weather be more genial, 
 it is a shade lighter upon the body, when it is styled the 
 
 * These flies are also made in the United States, and used on some 
 of our native waters. 
 
104 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 Cock-winged Dan. By the beginning of April it is of a 
 general olive color, with yellow-ribbed body, upon which 
 rests a bloom, like that of a ripe muscat grape, but upon 
 dull days a rust-like fungus is substituted for this, which 
 gives a ruddy appearance to the whole body at first sight. 
 It is then known as the Yellow Dun of April, light and 
 dark. In April, in the cold water near the springs or 
 sources of streams, more especially in limestone districts, 
 the fly appears of a light blue tint. This is designated 
 the Pale Blue Dun. A few weeks later again, and the 
 Blue Dun of February appears as the Yellow Dun of 
 May, and in ungenial weather, as the Hare's Ear Dun. 
 This, like most of these multifarious appellations, takes 
 its name from a part of the material used in the con- 
 struction of the artificial, the former being a light and 
 delicate olive, the latter several shades darker. 
 
 The "Yellow Dun of May" continues plentiful 
 through June on hot days, the action of the sun rendering 
 it lighter on the body. In July it is designated the Pale 
 Evening White, it being as white as a new shilling. The 
 nymphre locating in shallow open water, where the sun's 
 rays penetrate during the hot months, the fly appears 
 excessively light and delicate. In June, unseasonable 
 weather causes the body of the dun to assume a dirty 
 yellow tinge, and it is then known as the Common Yel- 
 low Dun. It acquires a more pronounced yellow a little 
 later, when the fly is termed the Golden Dun, being more 
 partial to fine weather. There are still two other shades 
 before the gradual tints of this interesting fly terminate, 
 and a comprehensive glance may be given of them in the 
 order of rotation as the season progresses. 
 
 The nympha of the Pale Evening Dun rises from deep 
 still water, the color very much resembling the common 
 yellow shade of June. This, in common witli all water 
 flies, gradually assumes a lighter shade, even when ex- 
 posed to the sun's rays for only an hour. Dull or inclem- 
 
PISCATOEIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 105 
 
 ent weather in July produces the July Dun, in which 
 the old and more general olive shade is again visible, 
 commingling witli pale yellow. And now, with the de- 
 clining months, the fish and fishermen are treated to a 
 repetition of the various shades of the spring, though 
 graduating in the contrary direction, i. e., growing 
 darker as the months pass, instead of lighter. Thus, in 
 August we have the exact shades of May, and in Sep- 
 tember those of April — the state of the weather and the 
 water being similar to that in the corresponding earlier 
 months of the year — until we again arrive at the Dull 
 Blue Dun of February in November. 
 
 The whole of the foregoing are the natural progeny of 
 the common red spinner. All the Duns, therefore, that 
 live to maturity become spinners; they are, in conse- 
 quence, very numerous. In the warmer months this fly 
 becomes lighter in shade, assuming a golden tint on the 
 body, when it is designated the G-olden, instead of the 
 Eed Spinner.* The limited period usually devoted to 
 the study of the native water flies, which are designed 
 for the sustenance of non-migratory fish, both upon the 
 surface and in the bed of the rivers, has led to erroneous 
 and inaccurate inferences. During an unusually back- 
 ward and dull season one particular shade of fly will be 
 numerous, often for many weeks, and occasionally even 
 months ; and as no two or three successive years are 
 likely to be identical in this respect, it is essential that 
 observations be assiduously carried on over an extended 
 period, or misconceptions will be the inevitable result. 
 Insects have been described in their first or imperfect 
 stage minutely, whilst the greater part of their existence 
 as flies and perfect insects has been ignored altogether. 
 Other species have been honored by a notice in their 
 decrepit old age, when they are described as beings of a 
 
 *The Ked Spinner is a favorite fly on some of our waters. 
 
106 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 day or hour. This inconsistency is mainly due to the 
 difficulty above noted of drawing correct inferences from 
 limited investigation, and under the varying influences 
 of the elements and seasons. 
 
 The next in importance to the angler, of the four 
 different varieties of Up-winged water flies, are the Large 
 or Spring Browns, so-called from their being more preva- 
 lent in the earlier parts of the season. The first appear- 
 ance of this second species is the well-known March 
 Brown* of the northern and southern counties, and the 
 Dun Drake of the midlands, the streams of which dis- 
 trict produce this fly more freely than elsewhere. The 
 term Dun Drake, is applied, because it bears a con- 
 spicuous resemblance to the May-fly or Drake in point of 
 both size and attitude, being twice the size of an ordinary 
 dun. When these flies first ascend from the watery 
 depths they are eagerly absorbed by the feeding fish. 
 Though styled the March Brown, they are seldom up 
 before the beginning of April on most streams. After a 
 few weeks of genial weather, the fly becomes of lighter 
 hue, as in the case of the olive dun, but with this differ- 
 ence, that it perceptibly decreases in size. A strange 
 inaccuracy is credited in respect to the first change of 
 this fly. It is supposed to be the female brown, but that 
 is perfectly erroneous, as the difference in sex cannot be 
 distinguished until the final stage of existence, viz., that 
 of spinners, in \vhich they propagate their species. The 
 spinners in this case are called the Great Reds, which are 
 numerous, more or less, just in proportion as their pre- 
 decessors, the large Browns, have been prevalent ; as is 
 also the case with the ordinary Red Spinners of the 
 Olive duns. In May the March Brown is recognized as 
 the Turkey Brown, f light and dark, in accordance with 
 
 * A standard fly in America. 
 
 t Under tbis name, my favorite fly for black bass, is known on the 
 6treams of Pennsylvania. It is usually tied on a No. 4 Sproat hook. 
 
PISCATOBIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 107 
 
 the weather. This fly dimiuishes in size as the weather 
 grows warmer. By August the fly is still a little smaller, 
 and is known as the August Brown or Dun. These are 
 seldom numerous, the nympha being generally in a state 
 of torpor in the hot months, as it is a hardy insect, and 
 partial to rough weather. A few Up-winged Browns 
 continue to haunt the surface of rivers and streams for 
 the remainder of the season, but are seldom sufficiently 
 numerous to merit attention. 
 
 The Iron Blue Dun ranks next in importance to the 
 Up-winged Browns. This is a distinct species, and is 
 not to be confounded with the Olive Dun, which is 
 double the size. The general prevailing color of this 
 insect is a beautiful deep blue, except upon the body, 
 where there is a faint tinge of mauve, intermingled with 
 blue. 
 
 It makes its first appearance in April; in May, however, 
 it is infinitely more plentiful, but has then a mauve-color- 
 ed body, acquiring a lighter hue as the season advances, 
 precisely similar to the other duns. The fly appears in 
 June and July, but paler in wings and body, when it is 
 recognized as the Little Sky Blue; and in the early part 
 of September is called the Little Pale Blue. Later still 
 it is very plentiful, but darker in shade, until in October 
 it closely resembles the olive shade of the Duns in April; 
 indeed these are frequently taken for half-matured Olive 
 Duns ; but this cannot be, as all winged water insects at- 
 tain full growth and dimensions immediately upon quit- 
 ting the pupa case. The metamorphosis of this fly is 
 the Jenny (or Jinney) Spinner. This is a beautiful and 
 delicate fly, so delicate that it is a difficult matter to 
 copy it successfully. The color is pure milk-white upon 
 legs, wings and body, except a bright crimson band at 
 each extremity of the last-named. 
 
 Each of the three varieties of up-winged water flies 
 live three days, after having ascended from the river's 
 
108 TIIE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 bed, and burst their "swathings." They then cast their 
 skins, like stripping off a garment, and reappear as spin- 
 ners. They live about five days in this, the concluding 
 period of their life. "We have several times taken for 
 experimental purposes a number of Common Red Spin- 
 ners, Jenny Spinners, and Great Eed Spinners (trans- 
 formations of the Olive Dun, Iron Blue Dun, and Up- 
 winged Browns). These we have deposited upon the 
 water contained in a fish-hatching box, through which 
 ran constantly a stream of fresh water, the whole being 
 well and closely-fitted over. There they have deposited 
 their eggs, each fly dropping several as it rose and fell 
 upon the top of the water. After this last and most 
 important function of their life had been performed, 
 each having deposited its hundreds of eggs, every sign of 
 vitality vanished, and they appeared lifeless, and merely 
 a flimsy form inflated with air. 
 
 By the aid of a powerful microscope we were enabled 
 to investigate minutely, from time to time, several points 
 of special interest to us. By careful and oft-repeated 
 researches we ascertained that from thirty-six to forty 
 days serve to hatch the eggs, when deposited in the sum- 
 mer months, but much longer if in spring ; and almost 
 immediately after this has happened, the larva or grub 
 secretes itself amongst the sediment at the bottom of the 
 water, instinct, doubtless, prompting this as security 
 against the numerous enemies which prey upon it. The 
 form of the larva is shown to be elongated, with six per- 
 fect legs, and whisked tail, also armed with a pair of 
 formidable forceps, with which its food is seized. Along 
 the sides there is a range of web-like appendages, which 
 serve as fins ; and by the aid of this propelling power 
 the larva becomes exceedingly active. In the course of 
 five or six months the larva changes into a pupa, or 
 nympha, by breaking through a filament or outward 
 skin. Upon the shoulders there are now two small pro- 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 109 
 
 tuberances, which ultimately develop into wings. When 
 in the larva and pupa states the insect is excessively 
 voracious ; like the small clothes-moth it feeds, not when 
 fully developed, but when "swathed" up in its tough 
 pliable case. The larvas of both moth and fly devour 
 many times their own weight in a single week, and this 
 is the case with all water-flies, whether Ephemeridm or 
 Phryganeidce (Up-winged or Flat-winged), which feed only 
 when in the larva and pupa state, absorbing sufficient 
 nutriment to sustain them during the short and final 
 stages of their life. They afterwards appear in their 
 new sphere, first as Duns, secondly, as perfect imagos or 
 insects. 
 
 As the eggs of the Ephemeridm had been deposited in 
 May, in the following February, whenever the state of 
 the water permitted, the first flies emerged from their 
 pupa case, rose to the top of the water, and bursting yet 
 another shell-like skin, unfolded their now perfect wings, 
 and appeared as early Blue Duns. A little more genial 
 weather, and the Cockwing and the Olive, from which 
 the fly takes its name, were predominant, the lighter 
 shades appearing as the nymphae gradually attained ma- 
 turity, up to mid-summer. April saw the first instalment 
 of Iron Blue, March or Spring Browns also appeared, 
 both being of a lighter shade, and the latter a little 
 smaller in dimensions, after the lapse of a few weeks. 
 Up to July the color of the Duns ranged in the precise 
 ratio we have given, by which time the whole of the 
 nymphae had attained maturity, with the exception of a 
 few of the Browns, which rose in August, smaller still 
 in size. To have the whole season's supply of the Ephe- , 
 meridce it is necessary to take Spinners about May, and 
 again in August. The latter produce first the delicate 
 tints, ending with the lead-blue shades that are seen in 
 November. 
 
 Such casts as are called the Apple-green, Orange, and 
 
110 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 Whirling Blue Dims,* do not occur anything like annu- 
 ally : they prevail only during a spell of unseasonable 
 "weather. A Dun of these pronounced shades may not 
 be observed for several seasons, "whilst for some weeks in 
 the succeeding one it may be exceedingly prevalent. If 
 the range of shades previously described are correctly as- 
 serted to be dependent upon the state of the elements, 
 and therefore accidental, these latter are doubly so. 
 
 The May-fly, Green Drake, or Cadow r concludes the 
 order of up-winged insects. This fly is an annual one, 
 appearing upon the majority of trout streams about the 
 first week in June. Throughout Britain it may be said 
 to be in season from the middle of May to the middle of 
 June. These flies are often wondrously numerous. The 
 first four days or so when they begin to come up, the 
 fish seem rather afraid of them, but as they become more 
 numerous they are greedily taken. These flies are com- 
 mon for twelve or fifteen days, when they entirely disap- 
 pear until the next season. The fish so gorge themselves 
 during the drake season that they lie dormant for some 
 days before they are relieved from the effects of their ex- 
 cess. More has been written upon this than perhaps 
 any other fly. It has been set up as an analogy for the 
 lesser ephemeral orders, which is scarcely correct, as it 
 appears but for a limited period annually; and in the 
 second place the eggf remains in the water two years be- 
 fore it grows sufficiently, and has arrived at a proper 
 state of perfection to ascend. It is also longer lived as 
 a fly. Swammerdam speaks of it as "a being of a 
 day, wiiose life in a perfect state is compassed in a few 
 hours." Another affirms that "they lay about eight 
 hundred eggs immediately upon the wings being devel- 
 
 * These flies are made here aud used on our waters. 
 tThe larva. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. Ill 
 
 oped, and the whole are deposited in a shorter time than 
 another insect would consume in laying one." 
 
 Our own experience tells us that they live from eleven 
 to fourteen days — nine days as green, the remainder 
 gray — and that they do not propagate their species until 
 they reach the final or perfect state, viz., that of gray 
 drakes. Nor do they lay eight hundred eggs. Our in- 
 vestigations go to prove three or four hundred to be the 
 utmost possible limit ; and, as to their depositing the 
 whole instantly, the idea is absurd. 
 
 We have seen, more than once, Stone and Cinnamon 
 flies and common moths lay eggs at the rate of sixty per 
 minute — one per second ; but with the up-winged insects 
 the operation is much more leisurely achieved. Floods 
 do not deter or retard the appearance of the water flies, 
 further than what damage may be done in a sandy or 
 loose-bottomed river by the larvae being crushed or swept 
 away. 
 
 When the weather is seasonable, the drake appears 
 upon some waters literally in swarms, so thick that to 
 fill the live-fly basket is often the work of but a few 
 moments. The exact annual time to a few days when 
 they come "up" upon each river is slightly subservient 
 to the weather. 
 
 The Gray or Black Drake is the metamorphosis or 
 transformation of the green. The color is black and 
 .white, and the fly finely and minutely freckled in the 
 wings. The body is milk white, the ribs faintly touched 
 with black, as also each extremity of the body. The legs 
 and tail are black, the latter being double the length of 
 the former. These flies are only prevalent as the season 
 of the drake begins to wane. They whirl in clouds in the 
 shadows of trees near and overhanging the water, strag- 
 glers ever and anon dropping upon its surface to deposit 
 eggs, which occurs particularly towards evening. In this 
 
112 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 act they are generally caught by the fish, which inces- 
 santly feed, so long as their prey is plentiful. 
 
 This fly is not nearly so much appreciated as the green, 
 being in its perfect state more active, for, in common 
 with other ephemeral transformations, it improves more 
 in outward form than inward substance ; hence the pref- 
 erence of the wily fish. The Gray Drake* generally 
 takes shelter under the leaves of trees and bushes during 
 mid-day in sultry weather, emerging in the evening in 
 incredible numbers, and sporting in the air in every di- 
 rection. When the fiy is matured enough to lay eggs it 
 is designated the Spent Black, owing to its gradually 
 getting darker in color towards the end of its existence. 
 The operation of depositing the eggs so exhausts the fly, 
 that it dies immediately on the completion of this func- 
 tion, a hollow shell being all that remains. 
 
 This insect, when in its new-born aerial dress, flutters 
 heavily, like the freshly-fledged song bird, and then ap- 
 pears devoid of all sense of feeling; but in its last stage 
 it is too delicate for live-fly fishing; indeed, it is then so 
 marvellously fragile that it may be said to be at the 
 mercy of a breath of wind, the slightest touch ending its 
 existence. In some instances this fly appears of a much 
 brighter green, the metamorphosis being of a freckled 
 red-brown. This is commonly called the "mackerel," 
 light or dark. It frequents slow-running, thickly-wooded 
 streams, but is of little importance to the fisherman. 
 
 The Flat-winged flies consist of a far greater variety of 
 species ; but, even taking them as a whole, they are of 
 but secondary importance from a piscatorial point of 
 view. We shall now, however, proceed to enumerate 
 the two leading orders of the flat-winged insects which 
 are requisite to a complete equipment. 
 
 * A standard fly with us. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 113 
 
 The first of these claiming our attention are the water 
 Flat-wings, the leading species of which are the Phryga- 
 neidce, consisting of the red, sand, cinnamon, and bank 
 flies, also the grannum or green-tail ; and the Perlidw, 
 which family includes the Stone Fly, Yellow Sally,* 
 Willow, and Needle Fly, or Tail-to-Tail. These flat- 
 winged flies arise from the larva or grub which is found 
 in small twigs, etc., these having been excavated to form 
 a retreat. The Red or Welsh fly is a four- winged na- 
 tural, its wings lying alongside the body, so as to com- 
 pletely envelop it except underneath, thus forming a 
 roof-like ridge across the back. It is the earliest fly out 
 in the spring, and may be seen upon the first tolerably 
 open day in January, fluttering industriously as it is car- 
 ried down stream. These are in some districts believed 
 to be the March Brown, but there is, as has been else- 
 where stated, a marked distinction between them. It is 
 a very useful fly in the early months. 
 
 After the February Eed, the next in this order is the 
 Sand-fly, which is precisely similar as to size and attitude, 
 but of a pronounced sandy hue universally. This fly 
 usually makes its appearance in the latter half of April, 
 continuing more or less prevalent during May, and again 
 in the autumn. Like the generality of four- winged flies, 
 it is seldom on the wing, and when so is a solitary in- 
 sect, but is a favorite with the fish, even when sparsely 
 present. 
 
 The Foetid Brown, or Cinnamon, f follows the sand-fly. 
 This is a much larger insect, being more than two-thirds 
 of an inch in length, from the tip of the head to the tail. 
 In general attitude it is precisely similar to those pre- 
 
 * Sometimes called the Yellow May. 
 t Known bj 7 the latter name in America. 
 
114 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 viously described, but it is of a darker and more ruddy 
 brown than the sand-fly ; it is more plentiful in the 
 autumn than at any other time of the year. Its name 
 has orginated from the fact of there being a faint odor of 
 cinnamon emitted by it when handled. It is invaluable 
 for live-fly fishing, but it is seldom "up" in sufficient 
 strength on open water, to make it equally valuable for 
 casting. Being excessively heavy in its frights, its mo- 
 tions and flutterings are very awkward. In July and 
 August it frecpients the surface of the water under shelv- 
 ing banks and sheltered places, and is then styled the 
 bank fly. In common with the Spring Browns it is con- 
 siderably smaller in size during the hot months ; but is 
 more numerous on cold days. 
 
 The Green-tail,* or Grannum, completes this order of 
 flies. It appears at first sight like a freckled sand-fly, but 
 upon a more minute inspection, is found to differ con- 
 siderably in several points. The body has a strange ap- 
 pendage of a conspicuous green color at its extremity. 
 This is its egg-pouch, and it is observed to drop its egg, 
 like the spinners of the ephemeral order, as it rises and 
 falls upon the top of the water. 
 
 The PerUdce order ranks next to the above. The most 
 useful we have given as being the stone, willow, and 
 needle flies, also the yellow Sally. The first-named is a 
 very large fly, and in some localities is termed the May 
 fly, as it annually makes its first appearance in that month. 
 There is, however, the same distinctive difference be- 
 tween this and the May fly, or Green Drake, that we have 
 already described in the February Red and the March 
 Brown, with this exception, that the wings of the Stone 
 fly are duuble the length of those of the Red fly, and lie 
 still more horizontally., being almost flat upon the back 
 
 * This fly is made by our tackle dealers, but, so far as I know, is 
 not in general use. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 115 
 
 of the insect. Except upon blustering windy days, these 
 flies are seldom " on " in sufficient quantities to excite 
 the attention of the fish; though as a luscious morsel, 
 the large fish seldom ignore even the solitary specimen 
 when it essays a paddling excursion across its native ele- 
 ment. Its general haunts are amongst the gravel and 
 pebbles by the sides of streams, hence the name ; but 
 when carried by a high breeze to mid stream in any 
 number, the artificial may be used with signal success. 
 The larvae of these large water insects form food for fish 
 some ten days or more before they are mature enough to 
 "rise," as the grub then becomes very active, and at- 
 tracts the attention of the fish. The grub, when ex- 
 tracted from the case or twig which it inhabits, is used 
 in a similar manner to the wasp bait and maggot for 
 bottom fishing. 
 
 The Willow fly appears in August. This is a well- 
 known insect, and on all our most frequented trout and 
 grayling streams is one of the first flies that the latter 
 fish feed ravenously upon, when coming into condition 
 after the spawning period. The color of its wings is a 
 dark, ruddy, brown blue, with light-colored ribs, and 
 legs a rusty black. Unlike most naturals, these flies, in- 
 stead of taking their names from their own color, are 
 almost universally known by the term Willow, which 
 appellation may have originated from the fact of their 
 being generally most abundant in the immediate vicinity 
 of willow trees, particularly while upon the wing, when 
 they may be observed in whirling masses just above the 
 surface of the water. 
 
 The Needle fly, Needle-brown, or Tail-to-Tail, as it is 
 sometimes called, is a peculiar-looking insect; its wings 
 are folded in a manner so neat and compact, and fit so 
 closely to the body, as to give the observer the impres- 
 sion that it is devoid of them altogether. In the warm- 
 est hours of a September day, myriads of them are to be 
 
116 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 seen fluttering in clouds in the shade of trees, bridges, 
 etc. They are of a dingy brown shade on the body, legs, 
 and wings, and unless seen in a certain light are almost 
 indistinguishable when in action over the water. There 
 are two sizes of these Hies when full grown, the largest 
 being fully half an inch in length, the other about two- 
 thirds that size. This is one of the best of our grayling 
 flies. The fish being partial to small insects, the lesser 
 one is generally used by most fishermen. This fly fre- 
 quents some streams in lieu of the Willow, and is equally 
 killing. Needle flies are numerous on warm mizzly days, 
 throughout the fall of the year. 
 
 The Yellow Sally concludes the list of the Perlidce 
 order deserving the notice of the angler. The fly is of a 
 general primrose tint, and when once seen can never be 
 mistaken. It rises about the middle of June, being more 
 or less numerous during the hot months, but is not 
 much appreciated by the fish. It is seldom really on the 
 water, even when well out, being a stray flier, often 
 descending from a great height to deposit eggs in the 
 water, falling apparently lifeless, but immediately spring- 
 ing up to soar anew, and repeat the operation. The 
 artificials of this fly fail to be effective, owing to their 
 being dressed "winged;" most flat-winged water flies 
 should be dressed "buzz"* to kill well. The best 
 chance of killing with this fly is during or soon after a 
 passing storm, which beats them down upon the -water. 
 
 We have now enumerated the three principal orders of 
 winged water insects. A reproduction of one of each 
 some accomplished fly-fishers place upon their casts for 
 all round fishing; but we do not advise our readers to act 
 up to any system, but would rather encourage them to 
 use their own observation, to be quick to take note of 
 
 * " Buzz "—Tied palmer fashion with the hackles well down on the 
 bend of the hook. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 117 
 
 existing influences and their general bearings on the 
 occasion, and thus to adapt themselves to meet circum- 
 stances which would otherwise prove detrimental to 
 sport. The real essence of the art lies in deceiving the 
 fish by a correct copy of any fly that may be at any time 
 absorbing their attention.* 
 
 We have yet briefly to mention the casual killers 
 amongst the numerous tribes of land insects, which may 
 be summed up as follows: — Cow-dung-fly, Small Beetles 
 (Marlow Buzz, or Coch-y-bondu), Oak fly, Blue Bottle, 
 Wren-tail, the Ants, and Gray and Black Gnats. f These 
 flies pass their pupa stage in the earth, either in thickly 
 wooded, or meadow land; they, therefore, do not habit- 
 ually frequent the water, but are driven upon it by 
 rough weather. 
 
 The Cow-dung-fly we have fully commented upon 
 elsewhere in "Notes on the Months." The term Small 
 Beetles, includes the lady-cow and ear- wig, as well as the 
 small members of the beetle tribe proper, which are 
 prevalent more or less throughout the season. The arti- 
 ficial is a simple hackled fly (elsewhere described) which 
 effectually represents the numerous members of the 
 above varieties. 
 
 The Oak-fly, or Down-looker, usually accompanies the 
 Green Drake. There is another fly that is commonly 
 used in its natural state, particularly upon thickly- 
 wooded streams; it is often seen upon the trunks of 
 trees, etc., upon wLich it invariably rests with its head 
 downwards, instantly assuming that position if alighting 
 in any other. In cold or inclement weather, it secretes 
 
 * Anglers, both American and Euglish, differ widely on this subject. 
 I have, on many occasions, filled my creel with fine trout using a black 
 hackle, when a dark bug could not be seen during the entire day, over 
 or on the water. This is not an exceptional occurrence. 
 
 t The Cow-dung and Coch-y-bondu are killing black bass flies. The 
 gray and black gnats and ants will be familiar to our old anglers. 
 
118 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 itself amongst the roots of luxuriant grass or thick moss, 
 until more genial weather prevails. The fly is perfectly 
 flat-winged, and in attitude resembles the house and 
 wood flies. These three flies are, perhaps, the most com- 
 monly known British insects. 
 
 The Wood fly resembles the domestic house fly in all 
 particulars except size, it being a trifle larger, and is 
 especially numerous in the vicinity of cattle, to which it 
 is very obnoxious, especially in wooded districts. In 
 cold weather, in the fall of the year, all the tribes of 
 wood and house flies become blind, when they are swept 
 upon the water in great quantities, to be picked off by 
 both trout and grayling, especially the latter. The Gray 
 Palmer efficiently represents these drowning insects, when 
 vainly fluttering to extricate themselves from the foreign 
 element. 
 
 The Blue Bottle is most in request for live fly-fishing 
 in July and August. It is sometimes cast along with 
 the gray palmer, and renders good account of its attrac- 
 tive powers, but cannot be said to be infallible. The 
 "Wren-tail, or Frog-hopper, forms one of the many varie- 
 ties of winged insects numerous in July. In common 
 with the small blacks, it braves the heat of the noonday 
 sun. The latter fortunately differ very materially in re- 
 gard to their habits and movements, as they are inces- 
 santly hovering over the water, whilst the frog-hopper 
 merely appears accidentally, and, therefore, unintention- 
 ally, upon its bosom. It is occasionally to be used with 
 effect. 
 
 The Ants * are only occasionally numerous, but in 
 some localities the red species are common in sandy soils, 
 and amongst wild, broken ground. The black variety 
 are found only in thickly-wooded districts, where they 
 
 *Thered and black ants arc favorites during low water. The eggs 
 are used sometimes with killing effect on the point of a fly hook. 
 
PISCATORIAL ENTOMOLOGY. 119 
 
 build their hills to a considerable size of small twigs, 
 leaf stems, etc. In sultry weather these little creatures 
 will migrate to the nearest water to indulge in a cooling 
 bath, and, when this happens to be a trout stream, both 
 fijh and fishermen experience lively times. Their eggs 
 are much sought after for angling purposes, being excel- 
 lent bait for almost every description of fresh-water 
 fish, when prepared and used similar to trout and sal- 
 mon roe. 
 
 The Gray and Black Gnats, and, indeed, the whole 
 fraternity of " smuts," arise from the soil of sheltered 
 meadow banks ; they are most obnoxious to the fly-fisher 
 when out in any quantity. 
 
 Year after year, and century after century, a curious 
 and interesting equilibrium is maintained by nature, 
 with but few deviations, in regard to insect life in this 
 temperate clime. Whilst various members of the beetle, 
 ant, and other orders increase, at intervals, to a really 
 alarming extent in more southern latitudes, in this coun- 
 try a truly marvellous balance of insect existence is pre- 
 served by the restraining action of counter influences on 
 the enormous procreative powers with which they are 
 invested. When myriads of flies are observed depositing 
 their eggs literally by millions, upon water or land, we 
 are led to investigate the reason why their material in- 
 crease is seldom rendered notable, and we find that the 
 mass simply go to feed other creatures, whose sole mission 
 would appear to be to counteract, regulate, and hold in 
 check their kindred species. All insects of the smaller 
 kind, inhabiting the earth or water, feed upon the ova of 
 the different orders of winged insects, the pupae of which 
 retaliate in turn by preying continuously upon the mi- 
 nute insects, the enemies of their previous existence. Thus 
 by a wonderful scheme of Providence, the perfect chain 
 of animated nature and organized creation is accurately 
 preserved. 
 
120 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 When insects arrive at maturity, there is this signal 
 and distinctive difference between the aerial and aquatic 
 species. The former are voracious feeders when in their 
 perfect state ; the latter do not, ns we have shown, feed 
 at all when in the sub-imago and perfect stages of their 
 existence, so that no devastating results issue from any 
 multiplication of these. The same observation cannot 
 be applied with equal truth to the case of the land in- 
 sects, which, when plentiful, are the bane of man and 
 beast. Eeaumur makes mention of a swarm of May 
 flies or drakes on the Marne, which completely covered 
 him two or three inches in depth, in the space of a few 
 minutes. Most fishermen have experienced something 
 similar, at long intervals, with regard to the water flies 
 in certain localities: this is the result of a combination of 
 circumstances favorable to them. Seasonable weather is 
 always favorable to insect life. A mild winter will tend 
 to destroy the ensuing season's general supply, by caus- 
 ing premature activity, followed often by premature 
 death, or at best by a relapse into a state of torpor. 
 These changes invariably prove prejudicial to the exist- 
 ence of insects. Steady and severe cold, when season- 
 able, upon the other hand, is not only favorable to 
 insect life, by causing a continued state of torpor, from 
 which they emerge in due season, but also by indirectly 
 preserving them from the attacks of their numerous 
 enemies. 'It sometimes happens that, from a variety of 
 causes, running water is of a higher temperature than 
 the atmosphere, in dry frosty weather ; and as the aquatic 
 insect, prior to leaving its native element, is Avholly in- 
 fluenced by it, an uprising of them when the air is too 
 cold for them to live in it, is not by any means an infre- 
 quent occurrence. "We have observed them rise to live 
 but a few hours, and sometimes only minutes, in the 
 event of there being no sun temporarily to counteract 
 the effects of the keen air. 
 
(Plate 3.) 
 
 SWIVEL LEAD 
 
 6 (121) 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 123 
 
 CHAPTEE XL 
 ON FLY MAKING. 
 
 FLIES FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING FISHING ; THE ADVISABILITY 
 OF COPYING NATURE; UP- WINGED AND FLAT- WINGED 
 ARTIFICIALS ; DRESSINGS FOR THE DUNS, BROWNS, MAY 
 FLEES, OR DRAKES ; FLAT- WINGED WATER FLIES ; LAND 
 FLEES ; HOW TO DRESS A HACKLE FLY, PALMER, ETC. ; SAL- 
 MON FLIES. 
 
 Trout and G-rayiing Flies. — A really solid advan- 
 tage the amateur fly-maker enjoys is his ever available 
 ability to produce copies of any special insect the fish 
 may just then be regaling themselves upon, when other 
 lures fail to meet with due appreciation. Trout are often 
 most tantalizingly fastidious; and though occasionally, 
 at rare intervals, they are to be taken by almost anything 
 in the shape of a fly, it is merely a reckless spirit of wan- 
 tonness that is displayed, in which case sport will prove 
 but indifferent, the fish in reality being merely playing 
 and not feeding. Trout will take down almost any- 
 thing when in this mood ; bits of leaves, twigs, and 
 other floating atoms, we have repeatedly seen them 
 close their teeth upon, when taking observations from 
 the chinks of a wooden foot bridge; but these float- 
 ing substances we noted invariably rose to the surface 
 almost immediately. But when, on the other hand, 
 there are myriads of any particular fly out, the thorough 
 earnestness displayed by the feeding fish, as they eagerly 
 absorb the abundance of food thus presented upon the 
 surface of their native element, bears a marked contrast 
 to their former demeanor ; and when the angler happens 
 not to possess an imitation thereof to present, in nine 
 hundred and ninety-nine instances out of a thousand, 
 
124 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 his lure will meet with an unflattering reception.* It is 
 then that the proficient fly-dresser, by a little display of 
 patience and ingenuity, proves equal to the occasion, and 
 by the prompt exercise of his art, rules the circumstances 
 to Avhieh his less accomplished brother of the rod 
 must bow. 
 
 Great disappointment is often experienced by the un- 
 initiated (and we regret to have to admit there should 
 exist grounds for honest complaints) in procuring flies 
 dressed to any particular artificial or natural pattern. 
 The prevailing custom would appear to be simply to 
 choose the fly in stock, bearing the best resemblance to 
 the pattern required iu its various details ; and as this is 
 occasionally limited in its character, the credulity of the 
 fisher is not infrequently imposed upon. These and 
 other tests of patience, the angler, who has become an 
 apt fly-dresser, spares himself. Upon the other hand, it 
 is but fair to point out the little drawbacks it is necessary 
 to surmount. 
 
 * The angling experts of England are at odds with each other on the 
 fly question. They are divided between " eolorists," who think that 
 color is everything : and " formalists," who hold that the natural fly on 
 the water, at a stated time, must be closely imitated in minutest detail 
 of form and tints of coloring. The former have settled down to a few 
 standard colors, and the latter to the use or ownership of the many 
 hundreds of varieties of artificial flies that now compose the fly fishers' 
 lexicon. Mr. Francis Francis has struck a happy (?) medium, and names 
 thirty-two flies as important ones for use on a trout stream. Mr. Pennell, 
 however, reduces the list to three, all hackles: the green, the brown, the 
 yellow. Perhaps I may be pardoned for a line or so on this subject. 
 Some years ago I was convinced that form and color were not so neces- 
 sary to secure a full creel, a6 the proper manipulation of the fly upon the 
 surface of the water. The closer the lure is assimulatcd to the action of 
 the struggling insect, the surer the rise and strike of the fish. My 
 attention was drawn particularly to this fact, from observing that the 
 large sun-perch (the " Kiver" of Western waters), never rose to the tail 
 fly, but invariably to the dropper, as it danced or skipped over the water 
 under the tension of the current. 1 fish always down or across stream. 
 On one occasion when taking an outing with an angling companion, we 
 chanced on a large pool, at the upper end of which was a big rock, 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 125 
 
 First, then, time is essential, as a matter of course, 
 for the practice of this pleasing art. We often hear it 
 asserted "that life is too brief to admit of fishermen 
 making their own flies;" every art and pursuit demand 
 a given amount of application, more especially until a 
 thorough practical knowledge of it is acquired. To 
 claim an exception in the case now before the reader, 
 would certainly be unjustifiable ; but in the particular 
 circumstances to which we have made allusion, it cannot, 
 we think, be denied that it is an advantageous accom- 
 plishment to the fly-fisher. Another fact, well known 
 to all practitioners, whether amateur or professional, is, 
 that the creditable construction of well-known artificials 
 requires a certain amount of studious application. Many 
 dozens have frequently to be made and discarded before 
 the hand acquires the accurate " knack" for each different 
 description of fly; therefore, with well-known "stand- 
 ards," the professor has unmistakably the advantage, 
 large quantities of each of those most difficult to make 
 being produced before another variety is taken in hand. 
 
 some five feet in diameter, rising out of the water. Wishing to ex- 
 change greetings, my friend stopped on the left of the rock and myself 
 on the right. "We found upon inspection that our end flies were identi- 
 cal, gray and black palmers tied very "buzz." Mine was much worn 
 and jagged — his a " spick and span " fresh one. In a few moments, 
 and in a sort of an automatic way, we commenced casting, chatting 
 freely in the meanwhile, our flies dropping within two or three feet of 
 each other. Soon the talk ceased on my part, being stopped by a plucky 
 rise and a lucky strike. Not to be tedious, I then and there killed five 
 fish, and my friend did not get a rise. After the fish had stopped rising, 
 we queried over and discussed the matter without avail, and it was 
 only after 1 had thrown my flies across the pool in hope of getting a 
 loiterer, that my friend struck the keynote of the solution, as he ex- 
 claimed : " Look at your tail-fly — it leaves a wake behind it like a stern- 
 wheel steamer." True it was — my jagged, frayed old palmer was fur- 
 rowing the water as a plow would a fallow field. From that day I 
 fear that I have been somewhat of a Pennellite on the fly question. I 
 give the chapter on fly tying without further comment, premising that 
 the amateur tyer will get more than one wrinkle from it. 
 
126 THE SCIENTIFIC A1STGLEK. 
 
 In fly-making, a natural specimen of the fly it is de- 
 sired to imitate should always be placed before the artist. 
 Man's greatest achievements in the fine arts are admired, 
 and justly so, in proportion to their faithful accordance 
 with the originals of nature. Mere reproductions of 
 these are not nearly so much esteemed ; for, though the 
 original canvas may be valued at its weight in gold, even 
 good copies are of small comparative worth. We have 
 often deplored the perverseness of individuals who, mis- 
 conceiving the object and aim in view, persist in repro- 
 ducing old renderings, from books and other sources, 
 and thus, instead of endeavoring to improve upon exist- 
 ing or old st} T les, merely perpetuate them, and are con- 
 tent. Many an old pattern of "artificial" is considered 
 irresistible in its season, owing to past exploits in which 
 it may have figured favorably, when given the post of 
 honor upon the fly-list. Their owners fail to compre- 
 hend that their vaunted virtues could and would have 
 been eclipsed in the matter of conquests, had a truer, 
 and therefore better copy been employed in equally fa- 
 vorable circumstances. 
 
 The natural insects, common to all pure running 
 streams, are precisely similar upon ail waters productive 
 of them; nevertheless the immense diversity in the imita- 
 tions (so called by courtesy) is simply astounding. To 
 take the Drake, or May fly, as a case in point. Though, 
 comparatively, this is a large and well-known fly, we 
 venture to assert that if a copy of it be obtained from 
 five hundred different fly-dressers, scarcely any two will 
 be alike; and it may be, that not many amongst the bet- 
 ter renderings have much in common with the original. 
 To the eye of the experienced fly-fisher, a glance at the 
 handiwork of any fly-dresser proclaims the amount of 
 practical knowledge and experience possessed by him. 
 To distinguish an old style of fly from a more modern 
 one, is a much easier matter; this is a problem, the solu- 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 127 
 
 tion of which need trouble no individual, as it certainly 
 does not the fish. As we have before pointed out, nature 
 is far too often imitated from memory, conventionality, 
 and tradition. Keproduction in art is a totally different 
 matter from reproduction in nature. The first-named 
 means in reality degeneration. Through such a process, 
 truth, ideality, and efficiency are lost at each succes- 
 sive step down the ladder of routine. Let the aspiring 
 student study and take his ideal and model from nature, 
 and then progress in true worth and efficiency will be 
 effected. 
 
 The first thing to note when a strange natural is taken 
 in hand to copy, is the position of the wings; as if it be 
 "flat-winged," it may be dressed hackle, or palmer-wise, 
 instead of being winged; whilst if it be up- winged, it 
 should be dressed with wings nearly erect, and broad in 
 proportion. The reason for this is obvious. The latter, 
 when upon the water, float buoyantly along, over both 
 broken and still water, which, however, is scarcely the 
 case with the first-named, as the majority of these insects, 
 being land flies, naturally fail to take to the water, like 
 the "up-winged" natives; therefore to imitate their 
 buzzing action the copies are usually made up hackled 
 and wingless. The secondary point for consideration is 
 
 The Choice of Coloe, which, we would impress upon 
 the mind of the tyro, requires the exercise of a certain 
 amount of judgment; as what may appear to be the cor- 
 rect thing to look down upon, will in all probability be 
 a glaring departure from the tint required when viewed 
 from underneath. It must ever be remembered that the 
 fish, from their position below the natural fly and the 
 copy, see through them; when -viewed thus they will ap- 
 pear, as a general rule, several shades lighter. To dis- 
 tinguish the correct color of a fly as presented to the fish, 
 we know of no better method than to place it in a clear 
 glass of water, and hold it between the eye and the light 
 
128 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 in such a position as to be able to see underneath the in- 
 sect. The precise shade of both legs, wings, and body 
 will then be accurately ascertained. 
 
 How to Dress the Fly. — "What we hereafter endeavor 
 to expound may deviate somewhat from the general rules 
 laid down by former writers; but when we state that the 
 method of construction to be hereafter divulged has been 
 to us as good as a patent since we originated the same, 
 we trust our motive in finally making public the result 
 of our researches in this by no means unimportant branch 
 of our delightful art, will not be misconstrued; as has, 
 we fear, been already the case with more than one pre- 
 decessor and originator of improvements in artificials, 
 whose works have been calumniated by individuals who, 
 to hide their own incompetency, have adopted the plan 
 of criticising the achievements of men of known merit. 
 But we digress. It is customary to make all up-winged 
 artificials with drooping wings. These, when wet, or 
 when drawn through the water, lie perfectly flat on the 
 back of the hook, and when this is the case with a dun 
 or spinner, or other ephemeral, it is a glaring departure 
 from the original. To dress up-winged flies so as to re- 
 tain their all but erect attitude in the water, and that 
 when subjected to hard and heavy use, we give the fol- 
 lowing: — Let us suppose for the time being that the in- 
 tending operator has already fashioned the body, and has 
 in readiness the material for its remaining appendages, 
 viz., the legs and wings. Isow, instead of next placing 
 the legs, and lastly the wings, he must reverse the oper- 
 ation by attaching the wings first, the addition of the 
 legs completing the process. To particularize, the wings 
 should not be detached prior to being put upon the fly. 
 The feather should also be ample in dimensions. A half- 
 inch breadth of fibre from a small bird's quill feather, 
 doubled so as to form the separate wings when attached, 
 is about the amount requisite for the March brown, two 
 
OK FLY MAKING. 129 
 
 thirds of this quantity for the olire dun order, and one 
 half for the iron blue duns. After securing the wings, 
 which should be about the length of the hook, thus a 
 little longer than the body, they are placed in their cor- 
 rect position. The hackle, with which it is intended to 
 form the legs, is then turned or wrapped into position 
 underneath the wings, the whole being well supported by 
 a few well-planted turns of the tying silk, which done, 
 all that remains is for the silk to be knotted or looped 
 off in the usual way, and your up-winged fly is complete. 
 With reference to the first stage of its construction, much 
 necessarily depends upon the precise nature of the mate- 
 rial to be used and worked up. The best and most reli- 
 able way of reproducing the varying tinges of the bodies 
 of the flies is by the use of raw silks and natural furs. 
 The foundation of the body of the fly is formed as fol- 
 lows: — The hook is taken in the forefinger and thumb of 
 the left hand (point downwards), the tying silk in the 
 right. A few turns of the silk are now given round the 
 shank of the hook. Meanwhile, as a preliminary ar- 
 rangement, the gut is slightly indented with the teeth at 
 the extremity to be secured. This lessens the chances of 
 drawing, especially in the hands of the tyro. The tying 
 silk should now be un twisted, so as to take all turn out 
 of it, preparatory to wrapping on. This done, the artist 
 works the textile round, leaving a fifth of the shank end 
 of the hook bare to fit on the wings, the gut and hook, 
 in so doing, straining the silk to its utmost tension. If 
 whisks or tails are used, they should be secured by a 
 couple of turns of the silk when the bend of the hook is 
 reached, the fur (if any) to be in readiness. A minute 
 portion is taken by the thumb and finger of the disen- 
 gaged right hand, and twisted or rolled with the tying 
 silk so as to adhere to that part of it near the hook, 
 which done, the silk thus prepared may now carefully 
 retrace the body, to form the ribs of the fly. These 
 
130 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 should be at a regular and natural distance apart. The 
 surplus fur is then to be taken both from the silk left 
 and the body of the "artificial" (which is now complete) 
 by an effective "nip" or two of the finger and thumb, 
 just leaving sufficient upon the hook's shank to faithfully 
 represent the tinge required. When the ribs are of a 
 contrasted hue, more carefulness still is necessary to give 
 due effect. "When the wings and legs are attached to the 
 body, after the manner we have pointed out, a prim and 
 neat rendering of an ephemeral is formed in fautless 
 attitude. 
 
 The following are the various dressings for the Olive 
 Dun shades: — 
 
 The February and November Shade (commonly 
 known as the Blue Dun). — Body, a small portion of blue 
 fur spun sparingly on yellow silk; wings, from the field- 
 fare's wing feather; legs, a light dun hackle. 
 
 March an"d October Shade (cock-winged dun). 
 — Body, a small portion of water-rat's fur, spun sparingly 
 on full yellow silk; wings, from an old starling's quill 
 feather; legs, a bluish dun hackle, freckled with yellow, 
 or a blue dun hackle slightly stained yellow. 
 
 Those of April and September (Olive or April Dun). 
 — Body, small portion of blue fur, spun on yellow silk; 
 wings, palest part of a young starling's wing feather; 
 legs, a light dun hackle, freckled with or stained yellow. 
 
 Dark April Dun. — Rust-colored fur to be used in lieu 
 of the pale blue for body. In September the rust-like 
 shade of body here alluded to is yet more conspicuous. 
 It is then termed in some localities the 
 
 Whirling Blue Dun. — The body being formed by still 
 more pronounced ruddy fur; legs, a dull ginger hackle. 
 This latter is very difficult to procure. An ordinary 
 ginger Cochin hen's preserved neck, steeped in copperas 
 water, will be found to answer admirably. 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 131 
 
 Pale Blue Bun. — Body to be dressed or formed with 
 pale blue silk; legs, a pale dun hackle; "wings, from a 
 starling's short quill feather. 
 
 May and August Shades (Yellow Dun of May). — 
 Body, palish yellow mohair, mixed with a little pale blue 
 fur, spun upon palish yellow silk; wings, young star- 
 ling's or fieldfare's quill; legs, a light dun hackle, freck- 
 led with yellow. 
 
 Hare's Ear Dun. — Body, blue mole's fur, dressed with 
 silk of a pronounced yellow; wings, from the redwing's 
 quill; legs, hare's fur from behind the ear. 
 
 The name of this dressing is taken, for convenience 
 sake, in common with the rest here given, from the 
 nature of the material used in the copies of the graduated 
 shades of the naturals, which periodically occur as the 
 season advances and recedes. 
 
 In June Shade (G-olden Dun), to be tied or dressed 
 with deep yellow silk, neatly ribbed with fine gold wire; 
 wings from a young starling's longer fiberia quill; legs, a 
 palish dull hackle, freckled with yellow. 
 
 The common Yellow Dun is the same dressing, minus 
 the gold tassel, the waxed tying silk being used for the 
 formation of the body. 
 
 Those of July (Pale Evening "White). — Body a little 
 white "fur spun on pale buff- colored silk. Wings the 
 palest part of a young starling's wing feather; legs a pale 
 dun hackle. 
 
 Pale Evening Bun. — Body, yellow martin's fur, spun 
 sparingly on yellow silk; wings, starling, slightly stained 
 yellow; legs, a brassy dun hackle. A pale blue hackle, 
 stained in weak yellow dye, forms an excellent substitute. 
 
 July Bun. — Body, blue rabbit's fur, mixed with yellow 
 mohair; wings, the bluest part of a fieldfare's wing, 
 stained slightly yellow; legs, a darkish dun hackle. Ty- 
 ing silk, yellow. 
 
132 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 The Iron-Blue Dun Family or Order may be dressed 
 as under: — 
 
 Foe April and Mat, also September and Octo- 
 ber (Iron Blue Dun). — Body, blue fur from the owl, 
 spun around mulberry -colored silk; wings, from the male 
 merlin hawk's wing; legs, a freckled blue dun hackle, 
 stained slightly by brown dye. Tying silk, mauve. For 
 the light shade, the body should be dressed with a strip 
 of a quill feather, stained the desired hue, or the tying 
 silk only may serve for the purpose. 
 
 August and September (Little Pale Blue). — Body, 
 a small portion of pale blue fur, mixed with a little yel- 
 low mohair, spun upon pale yellow or primrose-colored 
 silk; wings, from the quill feather, or from the small 
 feathers upon the knob of the wings of the sea-swallow — 
 a pair of the latter to be used back-to-back; legs, a pale 
 dull hackle. 
 
 October and November (October Dun). — To be 
 dressed from same material as the shades of the Olive 
 Duns for April. The size the same as the Iron Blue, and 
 therefore one-half that of the olive order. 
 
 General Flies (Red Spinner). — Body, copper-col- 
 ored silk, ribbed with round gold thread; whisks, three 
 strands from a red feather from the back saddle of a 
 game cock; legs, fiery brown hackle, from the neck of 
 the same bird; wings, from an old starling's end quill. 
 
 Dark ditto same as the above, but the floss silk for 
 body, and the hackle for legs, should be a shade or two 
 darker, the latter approaching a claret. 
 
 Golden ditto. — Body, gold-colored silk, to be ribbed 
 the same as the red spinner; legs, sandy hen's hackle; 
 wings, fieldfaro quill. 
 
 Jenny Spinner. — This is, perhaps, the most delicate 
 fly to copy correctly of the whole species of aerial and 
 aquatic insects that become food for fish. We find it 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 133 
 
 kills best when dressed buzz or hacklewise. The body 
 should be formed with floss silk of two shades, the 
 ground-work being white, with a bright crimson band 
 near the head and tail. It may also be tied with crimson 
 silk, so as to form a head of that color. The hackle 
 may be a white hen's, or a small white feather from the 
 knob of a pigeon's wiug. 
 
 The first three shades of spinners are the transforma- 
 tion of the Olive Dun Order. The last given is the 
 metamorphosis of the iron blue. 
 
 For tlie large browns (ephemeral) the following are 
 given: — 
 
 Foe March and April (March Brown). — Body, fur 
 from the back of a hare's neck, spun on reddish, buff- 
 colored silk, ribbed with fine gold twist; tails, two 
 strands of a feather from the back of a partridge; legs, 
 a partridge's neck feather. 
 
 For Mat and June — (Light shade, commonly known 
 as the Turkey brown). — Body, light drab fur, ribbed 
 with gold twist; wings, liglit partridge quill; legs, grisly 
 dun. 
 
 For August — (Commonly termed August Dun). — 
 Body, to be tied on, or dressed with ale brown silk, 
 ribbed with, yellow silk^ wings, from a cock pheasant's 
 wing feather; legs, a pale dull brown cock's hackle. 
 
 We now come to the May-fly, or Drake — the Ephemeral 
 series. The green drake, like all the smaller flies, re- 
 quires copying accurately, in respect to the most minute 
 detail. As we elsewhere pointed out, there exists no 
 greater diversity amongst the imitations of any particular 
 fly, than is the case with this. That it is an extremely 
 difficult one to dress, we readily admit, and that it is 
 quite possible to copy effectually is also readily conceded. 
 But to suppose that much more than one-third the im- 
 mense varieties of patterns manufactured can be success- 
 
134 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 ful is an absurdity, hence it is they are so frequently dis- 
 carded altogether, the live fly being substituted. But 
 these are not always to be had, even upon the most pro- 
 lific waters, therefore a good artificial proves a most de- 
 sirable auxiliary, even to the live-fly fisher. The main 
 point to direct the attention of the artist, is the choice of 
 material. This should take the precedence of all and 
 everything else in May-fly making; skill in constructing 
 it is not nearly so much called for as in the smaller orders 
 of the same species. Indeed, it may be affirmed that 
 the drake, owing to its size, is comparatively easy, whilst 
 the smallest ephemeral insects may be classed amongst 
 the most difficult. The fly-dresser has to reproduce; but, 
 as we have stated, the difficulty lies in procuring the 
 material requisite for a good artificial. Dyed mallard 
 feathers are for the most part used for wings, but of late 
 years natural ones have been largely employed, notably 
 those of the Egyptian goose, Avhich present a decided 
 brown tinge to the eye, but Avhen held up to the light 
 bear a much nearer resemblance to the tint of the natu- 
 ral. For our part we may say that for several seasons we 
 have used the breast and side feathers of the Canadian 
 wood duck, which, even when looked down upon, strik- 
 ingly favors the peculiar green-yellow tinge of nature's 
 original; and when viewed from beneath, and compared 
 with the genuine thing, the beholder cannot fail to ap- 
 preciate the similarity. The material to be employed in 
 the construction of the body determines, more than any- 
 thing else, the floating powers of the fly. Wheaten 
 straw, when rightly tinted, is the best substance to be 
 employed. This should bo well secured at each extrem- 
 ity, and a hollow left in the middle of the body. Red- 
 brown colored silk should be used to bind and form the 
 ribs of this. The whisks should be three strands of a 
 partridge's tail feather; the rabbit's whiskers usually 
 used act very detrimentally as regards hooking the fish, 
 
.OX FLY MAKING. 135 
 
 which, as they essay to lay hold of the fly at the tail, are 
 foiled in a measure by the undue stiffness of the head 
 feelers of the animal, which cannot be said to have been 
 designed to grace the tail of anything. As regards legs, 
 these in a floating fly should be ample and full; a freck- 
 led breast feather of a ginger hue, entwined with a cock's 
 honey dun hackle, is a combination that answers remark- 
 ably well. The fly. above described we have found so 
 successful and recommended it so strongly, that it has 
 been dubbed "Foster's Favorite" by the many who now 
 advocate its use. The gray or black transformation of 
 the green drake may be rendered as follows: — Widgeon 
 or dark mallard's feather, dyed pale slate color; body, 
 white straw put on as above, ribbed with dark mulberry- 
 colored silk; legs, two dun cock's hackles, these may be 
 dressed from shoulders to tail; whisks, three strands of a 
 black cock's saddle feather. 
 
 Green Drake. — Body, straw-colored mohair, ribbed 
 with gold twist; wings, from a mallard's mottled feather, 
 slightly dyed yellow; legs, honey-dun cock's hackle; the 
 head of the fly to be formed with copper-colored silk. 
 To make this fly buzz, a mottled feather from a mallard, 
 stained as above. 
 
 For the gray copy, we give the following: — 
 
 Gray Drake. — Body, white floss silk, ribbed with silver 
 twist, tied on with brown silk; tails may be made from 
 hair from under the jaws of a brown horse; wings, mot- 
 tled feather from the mallard; legs, a dark dun or black 
 cock's hackle. To" make this fly buzz, a dark mottled 
 feather from the mallard. This fly may be used with 
 success from six o'clock until twilight. 
 
 For the Dark Mackerel. — Body, copper-colored mo- 
 hair, ribbed with gold twist; wings, from the brown 
 mottled feather of a mallard; tails may be got from under 
 the jaws of a brown horse; legs, a dark mulberry-colored 
 stained cock's hackle. 
 
136 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEK. 
 
 To take the various species of flies in their proper 
 order, we come next to the Phryganeidce order, which 
 ranges as follows: — 
 
 February lied, or Red fly. — The body of this fly is 
 dubbed with dark-brown mohair, mixed with claret- 
 colored mohair ; wings, from the hen pheasant, or dot- 
 terel wing feather ; legs, dark-brown feather from a pale 
 partridge's neck, or a cock's hackle of the same color. 
 
 Sand fly. — Body, fur from the back of a hare's neck 
 spun sparingly on pale orange silk ; legs, a pale dull- 
 colored ginger hackle; wing, from a landrail's wing 
 feather. 
 
 Cinnamon fly. — Body, fur from a hare's neck, mixed 
 with a small portion of sable fur, spun on pale dull 
 orange-colored silk ; wings, from a brown hen's wing 
 feather ; legs, a pale dull ginger-colored cock's hackle. 
 
 Grannum, or Greentail. — Body, fur from the hare's 
 neck, spun on fawn-colored silk, with two laps of green 
 floss-silk on the tail; legs, a pale ginger-hackle; wings, 
 the palest part of a hen pheasant's wing feather. 
 
 The above being what are usually termed flat-wings, 
 should be dressed as in the old method, i.e., wings last, 
 so as to resemble the naturals. 
 
 The Perlidm order ranks next. Some of these it is 
 best not to wing at all ; the dim hackle from the knobs 
 of wings of various birds forming an excellent substitute 
 for legs and wings when carefully wound on like an or- 
 dinary hackle. 
 
 Stone fly. — Body, dark-colored fur, spun with full yel- 
 low silk, to be ribbed with some silk of same color, mi- 
 waxed ; wings, from the quill-wing feather of a cock 
 pheasant, or may be cut from a sheet of gutta-percha 
 (pure), dyed in cold blue dye ; legs, a black cock's hackle 
 stained yellow; this, if rightly made will form an excel- 
 
02* FLY MAKING. 137 
 
 lent artificial fly, not to be excelled by any combination 
 of feathers and fur alone. 
 
 Willow fly. — Body, water rat's fur spun sparingly on 
 yelloAV silk ; legs and wings made buzz, from a dark dun 
 hackle, with a brownish tint in it, or a small dark feather 
 from the merlin hawk's wing. 
 
 Needle fly. — Body, sable fur spun upon yellow silk, 
 dressed hackle with small brown feather from the knob 
 of a fieldfare's wing. This fly may be formed by a strip 
 of the enamelled quill of a peacock's feather, which forms 
 the alternate shades of ribs beautifully. This has been 
 introduced by a clever southern angler. 
 
 Yellow Sally. — This should never be dressed winged; 
 it falls upon the water as a heavy beetle would be sup- 
 posed to do, therefore the wings not being extended are 
 not seen by the fish. The most killing way is to hackle 
 it palmerwise, with a white hen's hackle dyed light yel- 
 low, or by the small feather round a white pigeon's wing, 
 stained as above ; the body to be yellow mohair. 
 
 The casual killers amongst the land flies may be dressed 
 as under: — 
 
 The Cowdung fly. — To be dressed or tied on with pale 
 dun orange-colored silk; body, yellow lamb's wool, mixed 
 with a little green mohair; wings, from a landrail's wing 
 feather; legs, pale dull ginger-colored hackle. 
 
 Oak fly, or Down-looker. — Body, pale orange floss silk, 
 tied on with pale lead-colored silk; wings from the wood- 
 lark's wing feather; legs, a furnace hackle. 
 
 Marlow Buzz, Cocli-y-londu, of Wales. — Body, peacock 
 herl, hackle with bright furnace feather. The red tag 
 (fancy fly) is formed by the simple addition of a red tag, 
 or tuft of wool or feather at the tail. 
 
 Brown Palmer, Bracken's Clock. — Body, black ostrich 
 herl, ribbed with round gold twist, hackled with red 
 cock's hackle stained. 
 
138 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 Blue Bottle, or Beef Eater. — Body, light blue floss 
 silk, ribbed over -with black ostrich herl and silver twist, 
 tied on with brown silk; wings, from an old starling's 
 wing feather; legs, a black hackle. 
 
 Wrentail. — Body, amber-colored floss silk, or ginger- 
 colored fur from a hare's neck, ribbed with gold twist; 
 legs and wings made buzz from a wren's tail feather. 
 
 Red Ant. — To be tied or dressed with orange-colored 
 silk, which may be shown at the tail; body, copper-colored 
 peacock's herl; legs, a red cock's hackle; wings, from a 
 redwing's feather. 
 
 Black Ant. — To be tied on or dressed with pale dull 
 fawn-colored silk, which may be shown at the tail; body, 
 black rabbit's fur, well mixed with copper-colored mo- 
 hair; legs, a dark furnace hackle. 
 
 Black Gnat. — Body, ostrich herl; wings, from a starl- 
 ing's wing feather ; legs, a dark blue dun, or black 
 hackle. 
 
 Gray Gnat. — Body, gray mohair, or wool hackle, with 
 sea-swallow feather. 
 
 Red Palmer, or Caterpillar. — Body, copper-colored 
 peacock's herl, tied with brown silk, ribbed with gold 
 twist, a bright brown red-stained cock's hackle, having a 
 gold-color when held between the eye and the light. 
 
 The Alexandra fly. — Body, flat silver twist hackled 
 with bright feather of green or blue hue, from the neck 
 of a peacock; wings (if any) from the turkey's wing. 
 
 How to dress a simple Hackle: — 
 
 The first effort of the fly-making aspirant should be 
 expended upon the wingless artificials; of these there are 
 two kinds, the plain Hackle and the Palmer; the former 
 is the best to commence with, it being the easiest to 
 make; but before attempting to describe the method, we 
 would remind our readers that there is a vast distinction 
 between practical and verbal teachings. Observation in 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 139 
 
 these matters is superior, as a source for conveying 
 knowledge, to reading; therefore, where available, a few 
 lessons from a proficient will be found highly beneficial. 
 
 The process of forming the body for a Hackle fly is 
 not identical with the same operation in the winged one. 
 In the construction of the latter, a small portion of the 
 shank of the hook itself is left bare to fix the wings 
 upon, to thereby form the head neatly. This, however, 
 is formed, to begin in the case of the buzzy or hackle fly, 
 by a few turns of the silk at the extremity of the shank; 
 a little blank is then left for the hackle to fit or fill in; 
 the body is then to be formed m the usual way. This 
 completed, the hackle feather must be taken in hand, 
 first having been stripped of its downy surplus fibres, the 
 root of the stem is secured by a couple of turns of the 
 tying silk at the shoulder of the fly. The hackle thus 
 seoured at its lower extremity, is ready for fitting in. Its 
 point is then to be taken hold of with the tweezers, and 
 two or more turns of the feather given; the end is then 
 to be secured by a turn or two of the silk, the invisible 
 knot formed, and the fly is made, wanting only the silk 
 end to be cut carefully away to complete the thing. The 
 Palmer is artificial that is hackled from head to tail, such 
 as the bumbles, caterpillars, etc. The process of body 
 making is identical, in this instance, with the hackle fly 
 just detailed, except a little addition in the shape of herl, 
 a strand of which is wound around the gut and silk, the 
 feather being turned over this, and the bit of tinsel or 
 silk, by way of ribbing, going over the whole, for the 
 sake of both use and ornament. 
 
 We append a few dressings for the various bumbles and 
 palmers, which, though in some instances deemed fancy 
 flies, are often good killers. 
 
 Bumble, ordinary. — Hackle, white hen's, slightly stained 
 blue; body, peacock herl, ribbed with orange and puce- 
 colored silk (floss) ; tying silk, brown. 
 
140 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 Mulberry Bumble.— Hackle, dun hen's; bod}*, peacock 
 herl, ribbed with mulberry-colored floss silk; tying silk, 
 claret. 
 
 Bed Bumble, or Earwig. — Hackle, red cock's, stained; 
 body, peacock herl, ribbed with gold silk; tying silk, 
 dark brown. 
 
 Honey dun Bumble. — Hackle, honey dun hen's; body, 
 peacock herl, ribbed with orange floss silk; tying silk, 
 yellow. 
 
 Furnace Bumble. — Hackle, furnace cock's; body, pea- 
 cock; or black herl, ribbed with dark orange silk; tying 
 silk, red brown. 
 
 Black Palmer. — Hackle, black cock's, ribbed with fine 
 silver twist; tying silk, black. 
 
 Golden Palmer. — Hackle, bright furnace; body, pea- 
 cock herl, ribbed with gold twist. 
 
 Gray Palmer. — Hackle, cock's, with black centre and 
 whitish gray edge, ribbed with fine round silver tinsel ; 
 tying silk, black. 
 
 A variety of palmers may be made by intermixing the 
 materials here given for the particular shades. 
 
 Salmon Flies. — In the construction of these there 
 exists a grand distinction. The taste and fancy of the 
 operator are called into request, and nothing in nature 
 demands his study and attention more. A happy com- 
 bination and contrast of various hues and colors, from 
 6ombre to brilliant, are the main object. 
 
 Salmon arc extremely effeminate in the love of finery 
 and tinsel, especially in the case of habitually discolored 
 waters. There are rivers upon which flies of a more 
 sombre hue than the general run are used; but the 
 bright and brilliant combination is found irresistible, 
 more or less, wherever salmon are to be found, when they 
 are in a mood for rising and gambolling. The great 
 thing to keep in the mind's eye when choosing or con- 
 
OK FLY MAKING. 141 
 
 structing a salmon fly, is the shine through the feathers, 
 wool, mohair, etc., when held above the head, and thus 
 viewed from beneath. 
 
 Some dressings are almost of one universal dull shade, 
 or no shade at all, when held in the posture seen by the 
 fish; others will have the color rightly seen sinning 
 through in a few patches; but the correct thing is to get 
 the whole of the legs, tail, and body to shine brilliantly 
 through, as well as when looked down upon, and the 
 fault will be not of the fly if it be refused by the fish. 
 The materials used for salmon flies are especially picked 
 with a view to their effect when seen from below; as for 
 instance, the hard-to-be-procured pig's wool, which for 
 transparency of shade stands well nigh unequalled; also 
 mohair, which, though of finer texture, possesses the 
 same characteristics. These, when well placed upon the 
 hook shank, shine most effectively when wet, and viewed 
 from below. Another feature in the arrangement of the 
 salmon fly, the enormously large, and in many cases 
 heavy hook, has to be floated as long as it is possible, 
 and that in a right position. The old arrangement was 
 best calculated to meet this difficulty, large wings being 
 attached so as to preserve the side posture of the lure as 
 it rested upon the water. 
 
 We give a few odd salmon flies for general use, that 
 are not at present generally known. Prefixed to these 
 are a few of those most commonly in use: — The Spanker, 
 the Eob Roy, the Spartan, the Tarn o' Shanter, and the 
 Mac Sporren. 
 
 Description of the Spanker.— Tag, flat single tinsel and 
 cerise floss silk; tail, golden pheasant's topping; a few 
 strands of scarlet flamingo's quill feather; body, orange, 
 light and dark, and cerise floss silk bound over an old 
 cock's hackle stained slightly sky-blue, the latter being 
 palmered from the head to the tail, another of these 
 forming legs; wings, turkey, with several side strands of 
 
142 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 argus pheasant wing feathers, and red, yellow, and puce- 
 colored feelers or strands. 
 
 The Rob Roy. — Tag, gold (flat) and orange floss silk; 
 body, orange mohair, graduating through full and dark 
 orange to dull red; legs, guinea-fowl neck feather, 
 stained yellow, and a black cock's hackle, also stained 
 yellow wings, black turkey feather; side feathers, jungle 
 cock's hackle; streamers, yellow and red; head, black 
 ostrich herl 
 
 Tlie Spartan. — Tag, gold (round), white floss silk and 
 peacock heii; tail, three strands from a green feather 
 from the neck of a peacock, and a few strands of yellow 
 and scarlet lucan breast and neck feathers; body, hackled 
 with claret stained hackle, wound over with gold twist 
 (heavy round) and bright-colored silk; legs, dark blue 
 hackle, and guinea-fowl feather over all; wings, golden 
 pheasant's tail feather, ditto neck or tippet feathers for 
 sides, blue chatterer's over all: head, peacock's herl. 
 
 The Tarn o' Shanter. — Tag, red silk silver twist (round); 
 tail, a few yellow and red spires of macaw feathers, helped 
 with a few strands of blue or green peacock's neck 
 feather; body, pig's wool, navy blue, with broad flat sil- 
 ver twist; legs, rich fiery brown hackle; wings, bustard 
 feather; sides of ditto, American wood duck feather; a 
 few strands of argus pheasant's dark feather to be also 
 added in larger flies. 
 
 The Mac Sporren. — Tag, flat silver, and blue silk. 
 Body, fiery brown pig's wool ribbed with round gold 
 twist; legs, orange and purple, hackled (stained); wings, 
 golden pheasant, red sides tail feathers; toppings, large 
 strands of albatross wing feather; streamers red and 
 green over all, kingfisher's feathers, or blue chatterer. 
 The following are well-known dressings: — 
 Jock Scott. — Tag, gold twist: tail, one golden pheasant 
 topping, and Indian crow feather; body in two parts; 
 
ON FLY MAKING. 143 
 
 head, part black floss silk, with silver twist and palmered 
 black hackle; tail ditto, gold colored; at each joint are 
 tied several toucan points, these being backed up by two 
 turns of black herl. For wings, white tipped turkey 
 feather fibres of pintail bustard, brown mallard, with one 
 long topping, and yellow, red, and green streamers over 
 all, a jungle cock on either. 
 
 The Butcher. — Tag, gold twist and orange floss; tail, a 
 single topping of golden pheasant, with band of black 
 ostrich herl; body, alternate turns of red and full blue, 
 either mohair or pig's wool, broad silver tinsel, palmered 
 with claret hackle; wing, mixture of brown mallard, 
 bustard, peacock wing, wood-duck, golden pheasant tip- 
 pet and rump feathers; streamers, blue and yellow over 
 all; head, black ostrich herl. 
 
 The Doctor. — Tag, scarlet silk and fine gold twist; 
 tail, one topping; body, light blue floss silk, palmered 
 with medium blue hackle, broad silver tinsel and twist; 
 legs, blue hackle, with brown grouse or partridge over 
 all; wing, argus pheasant's, brown turkey, and bustard; 
 streamers, yellow, blue, and claret; black herled head. 
 
 The Shannon. — Tag, gold tinsel, and lemon-colored 
 silk; tail, scarlet ibis or flamingo, two toppings, and blue 
 macaw, black ostrich band; body, alternate colored silks, 
 beginning at the tail end, pale blue, full orange, violet 
 and medium green, the alternate colors being set off by a 
 hackle of the same shade, also ribbed with ostrich herl 
 dyed same color as alternate joints; wings, two yellow 
 macaw feathers, black-centered (usually), a single strip of 
 dark argus pheasant on either side, also a few fibres of 
 golden pheasant tippet, two small blue chatterer's 
 feathers, and two large toppings over all; legs, fiery 
 brown feather, black head. 
 
 Blacker 's Gaudy Fly. — Tail, two slips of brown mal- 
 lard, and one topping or crest feather (golden pheasant) ; 
 
144 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 tag, gold orange floss and ostrich herl; body, one-third 
 crimson, palmered with black hackle, one-third scarlet, 
 with scarlet backle, finish the body with crimson and 
 scarlet hackle oyer it; wings, well mottled red and black 
 turkey, feather off golden pheasant's back under it ; 
 streamers, red and blue; legs, guinea-fowl feather; head, 
 ostrich herl. 
 
 The Rainbow. — Tail, light greenfeather, pheasant's 
 topping, few fibres of bright green feathers ; tag, flat, 
 gold ; body, pig's wool, graduating from bright yellow 
 through orange, scarlet, to purple, and broad gold tinsel; 
 wings, two toppings and two jungle cock's hackles, and 
 two mottled feathers from under snipe's wing; streamers, 
 crimson; legs, blue and brown hackles. 
 
 Tlie Spcy Dog. — Black pig's wool body, sparingly rib- 
 bed with broad silver tinsel, to be palmered with black- 
 cock saddle or side-tail feather, the thick end of hackle 
 terminating at tail end of fly ; in addition to the flat 
 silver tinsel, gold of half the width is also run from head 
 to tail ; wings, golden pheasant tail ; left bushy, and a 
 few fibres of brown mallard, to be shouldered with a teal 
 hackle. 
 
 The Parson. — Tail, two toppings, and a few fibres of 
 peacock's blue neck feathers ; tag, silver tinsel and full 
 red floss ; body, a turn or two of golden floss, then orange 
 pig's wool shading gradually darker up body, ribbed with 
 silver twist, palmered with orange hackle ; legs, hackle 
 of dark shade ; wings, two golden pheasant tippet feath- 
 ers, two pairs of topjnngs, wood-duck and turkey on 
 either side. 
 
 The Ranger. — Tag, silver twist and gold-colored floss 
 silk ; tail, red breast-feather of golden pheasant, and a 
 topping footed with two turns of black ostrich ; body, 
 fiery brown pig's wool one-half, remainder pale blue ditto, 
 to be palmered with blue hackle ; legs, wood-duck hackle 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 145 
 
 from under wing ; wings, two tippets, a couple of jungle 
 cock's hackles, with a topping over all. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING.* 
 
 ATTRACTIONS OF SURFACE FISHING; THE ROD, LINE, AND WTNCH; 
 CASTING, STRIKING, PLAYING, AND LANDING ; THE WET AND 
 DRY FLY SYSTEMS ; BROOK FISHING ; METEOROLOGICAL EF- 
 FECTS ON SPORT ; NIGHT FISHING ; THE DOVE. 
 
 The superiority of the art of Fly-fishing over all other 
 systems of angling is universally acknowledged. The 
 ever-exciting nature of surface fishing adds a zest to the 
 sport, unknown to the other branches of the art pisca- 
 torial. The high pitch of expectation experienced as the 
 rising fish daintily ' ' plop " off the insects around, ex- 
 tends a highly exhilarating influence over both mind and 
 body. The whole of the faculties are thus concentrated 
 in one focus, ever stimulating to still greater earnestness 
 and efficiency. It is owing to these characteristics, this 
 scope for science and skill, that this sport is and has 
 been the chosen recreation of men of the greatest celeb- 
 rity and the highest attainments of modern times. Since 
 the time of Walton the angler's skill has advanced won- 
 drously, whilst keenness of perception and wariness have 
 developed amongst the denizens of the liquid element in 
 a degree quite proportionate. The well educated inhab- 
 itants of the classic streams of the Midlands and of the 
 south, the former clear from the limestone district of the 
 
 * We commend this chapter to the careful reading of American 
 anglers. 
 
 7 
 
146 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 Peak, and the latter pure from chalk districts, require 
 no small proficiency and tact to secure e\en moderate 
 sport generally ; nevertheless the accomplished fly-fisher 
 can usually manage to bag a respectable dish, even under 
 circumstances adverse to sport. On the other hand we 
 have a multiplicity of trouting streams and brooks, espe- 
 cially those north of the Tweed, whose fish are in a 
 manner unsophisticated, and comparatively unacquainted 
 with the wiles of mau. Amongst these the young student, 
 on commencing operations, will do well to make a selec- 
 tion. The adept at flying for trout, when at work in 
 real earnest upon the banks of a well-stocked stream, is 
 a striking figure, exemplary of the true fisherman. The 
 gracefully erect though expectant attitude, the latter as- 
 sumed upon the delivery of the fly, the slender pliable 
 rod, the long floating line and gossamer gut, combine to 
 constitute an ideal rodster. Before entering full}' on the 
 details of the subject, we would jot down a few brief in- 
 structions for the special benefit of the novice, who, as- 
 piring to proficiency, must be prepared to acquire expe- 
 rience at some cost ; and our object is to reduce that cost 
 as much as possible. 
 
 The first consideration that should engage the atten- 
 tion of the tyro is throwing or casting ; and after that 
 has been well practised and a ten or twelve yards cast 
 can be neatly made, he may essay striking and playing. 
 Dace or Perch in the summer months afford ample scope 
 for the acquirement of these accomplishments. It is the 
 determined will to succeed that attains its object ; and 
 when the resolve is once taken there is the immediate 
 response of the will to the perceptive powers seen in the 
 discernment of a rise, and at once, and without delay, 
 the quarry is successfully struck. "Well do we remember 
 our first take with the fly ; filled with the ardor natural 
 to youth we were foolish enough to resolve to effect a 
 capture prior to quitting the river's brim. All the day 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 147 
 
 we flogged and fished, the result being simply nil; ten, 
 twelve, and thirteen hours passed away without so much 
 as moving a fin. The summer twilight set in, shadowing 
 the outlines of the surrounding landscape. Still our res- 
 olution was firm, and in keeping with a set purpose we 
 presented the lure more gently, and with greater preci- 
 sion upon the edge of the shadows caused by the rising 
 moon, where the heavy ' switching' sound, repeated at 
 short intervals, proclaimed the daily dinner hour of a 
 veteran. After casting for some time directly over 
 him, we finally hooked the fish. As we had had the 
 discretion to fit up a strong collar * to carry the large fly 
 employed, we had very little difficulty in landing our 
 quarry, which was afterwards found to measure seventeen 
 inches in length, and nine and one-half inches in girth, 
 scaling two and three-quarters pounds, a venerable mons- 
 ter in truth to our boyish eyes. 
 
 Care and patience in execution are required, after the 
 rudiments of the art have been acquired; a non-observance 
 of these is sure to materially interfere with sport. Per- 
 severance is all "very well in its place, but when unaided 
 by the exercise of due care and tact in presenting the 
 lure, it will meet with small result. The tyro should 
 therefore practice assiduously, ever bearing in mind that 
 much as he may admire and aspire to a nearer acquaint- 
 ance with the scaly beauties, they are coy and ungrateful. 
 The instant they become aware of his paying them the 
 least attention, they move contemptuously away; and no 
 matter how lovingly he drops them a line, all further 
 correspondence is thanklessly declined. It behooves him 
 therefore to keep out of sight as much as possible, never 
 allowing the sun to extend his shadow across the stream, 
 always also avoiding conspicuously bright clothing; for 
 notwithstanding the naturalist's persistent assertions as 
 
 * The collar, casting line, lash or point are names indiscriminately 
 used in England to designate the leader — so called in the United States. 
 
148 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 to the dullness of the eves of fish, owing, it is affirmed, 
 to the skin of the head covering the pupil of the eye, 
 the trout fisher knows very well that in their own ele- 
 ment they habitually exercise the most keen and dis- 
 criminating powers of vision, when the water is clear; 
 and any moving or brightly-colored objects outside it 
 attract their attention.* In order to deal comprehen- 
 sively with our subject, for the more especial edification 
 of the tyro, we shall proceed to allude in detail to the 
 leading items already referred to as being essential to 
 success, viz. : —Casting the Fly, Playing or Landing, and 
 Killing a Fish. Before doing so, however, the necessary 
 appliances must engage our attention. 
 
 The Eod, Keel and Line should be well adapted to 
 act perfectly and in concert with each other. We have 
 already pointed out the inconvenience and disaster arising 
 from the common practice of employing implements to- 
 tally incapable of working together evenly. The intending 
 purchaser most frequently considers what is the strength, 
 length or thickness of line required for some specified 
 water or fish, and not for a particular rod. The rod 
 forms the first subject of attention; the winch, or reel 
 and line being next chosen, with a view to the harmoni- 
 ous working of the whole, the reel to balance, and the 
 line to suit the " play " of the tool. This is of the most 
 vital importance. Fly-rods are made of many different 
 woods and dimensions. It is a noteworthy fact, how- 
 ever, that during the two centuries that have elapsed 
 since Cotton first wrote upon what afterwards developed 
 
 *I have always been under the impression that it was not the sub- 
 stance of our presence, but the shadow of it, that startled the fish; that 
 when fishing with the sun's rays full on our front, and even on dark, 
 cloudy days, our body and moving rod-arm, although throwing no 
 shadow upon the water visible to the human eye, were reflected upon 
 the stream to an extent appreciable and alarming to the fish, indicating 
 to them an unusual condition of affairs that boded no good and placed 
 them upon their guard. 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 149 
 
 into the most artistic and scientific branch of angling, 
 the length of the fly-rod has diminished by more than 
 one-half. Notwithstanding this diminution of size, and 
 we may also add of weight, the casting powers of the 
 rodster have been so much augmented, that almost dou- 
 ble the distance may now be neatly covered by the adult 
 adept than was effected with the unwieldy weapons of 
 our forefathers. * The propelling power of the fly-rod 
 depends largely upon the material of which it is con- 
 structed, f The fine-grained woods of the tropics exceed 
 our own in point of strength, durability, and weight- 
 sustaining powers. 
 
 The following are the materials and dimensions of a 
 really serviceable fly-rod for small stream fishing: — Three 
 joints or parts, each three feet six inches, the butt to 
 consist of hickory or washaba, the middle joint of best 
 washaba, greenheart, or blue mahoo, the top of snake- 
 wood, or best jungle cane, the whole being ten feet six 
 inches. The ferrule at the top of the butt should be 
 6 / ir th of an inch inside; the one at the top of the middle 
 joint one-quarter of an inch. The actual weight of a rod 
 of this description will be small. % 
 
 The points to receive attention are strength and plia- 
 bility; a combination of these forms the perfect casting- 
 rod; and the more these qualities are exemplified in a 
 rod, the greater the distance to be covered by it, and that 
 
 * The Casting at the Tournament held in New York City in 1883 at- 
 tests the truth of the statement in the text. 
 
 + This dictum of our author will be forcibly "backed up " by every 
 manufacturer on both continents. Makers of rods of split-bamboo, 
 greenheart, lancewood, Bethabara, hornbeam, et. al., are of one accord, 
 at least, on this point. 
 
 X The proper and standard weight of the rod is rated in England at 
 one ounce to each foot — ten feet, ten ounces. 
 
150 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEE. 
 
 with perfect precision. With a view to extend in the 
 direction here indicated, we have made many experiments 
 with metal and wood of every variety, as also with other 
 substances of pliancy and strength. Metal, either hcllow 
 or solid, is too heavy and cumbersome; wood of green- 
 heart, red locust, snake, and other descriptions, proves 
 strong and pliant, and is so when spliced, like the mast of 
 a ship, or similar to the glued-up American cane rods; but 
 there is no especial advantage to commend them, seeing the 
 weight is increased by something like one-third over the 
 same substance solid and non-glued. The modern three 
 yards rod, as we have said, can be made to deliver more 
 line, and that in a more elegant and sportsmanlike man- 
 ner than a longer one. 
 
 But the question naturally arises, if the fly-rod has 
 been diminished one-half during two centuries, of what 
 dimensions is it likely to become in the immediate fu- 
 ture ? Our reply is, that in the course of a decade or so, 
 still further reductions will take place. The length of a 
 rod, as is now well known, has very little to do with the 
 distance it can be made to cast the fly; the casting powers 
 entirely depend on the pliancy and strength, hence it is 
 that the very hardest, and we may also add, the most 
 weighty (for one characteristic is almost inseparable from 
 the other) woods are so far superior to open-grained 
 northern timber. Bone, as is already known, is too 
 heavy, buffalo horn is too limber when dressed in tops. 
 The result of our investigations is, that a combination 
 of the best metal and the best wood, would, if arranged 
 correctly, and in right proportions, be an advance in a 
 desirable direction. We therefore had a rod made of the 
 very best of strong woods, with a fine bevelled steel 
 centre, and this proved when, after some alterations, it 
 was completed, to bear out the hopes conceived in respect 
 to it. We had been enamored of this idea theoretically, 
 practically it gives every promise of ultimately meriting 
 
PLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 151 
 
 the pains and researches we bestowed upon it. * The reel 
 upon the new rod is made inside the butt, so to speak, 
 thus all annoyance of the line entwining around the reel 
 is entirely avoided, f The general working of the imple- 
 ment proves this to be a decided advantage over the old 
 side-fixing system. 
 
 The Line should be plaited of water-proof silk. The 
 eight-plait water- proof fly lines have gradually, during 
 the last forty years, superseded the old hair, as well as 
 the hair and silk lines. As we have elsewhere stated, 
 silk is the strongest textile, and, when duly protected 
 from the action of the water, cannot be surpassed for 
 surface fishing. The new Acme Line is a further im- 
 provement on the above. It contains a fine strand or 
 thread of annealed and specially prepared copper wire, 
 either in the plaiting or in the centre of the line, the 
 whole being carefully water-proofed. J The Acme is 
 guaranteed to extend the rodster's powers considerably. 
 
 The Reel should be of bronze, or brass, and the han- 
 dle should be attached to a revolving plate, instead of a 
 
 * The wire-centered re-enforced rod was made in America fifteen years 
 ago. In 186S, Mr. Hyde, inventor of the " Hyde Clip " for fly-books, 
 made two rods on this principle. The wood used was cedar, and a two- 
 jointed rod was constructed with a small steel wire running through it 
 from end to end. One of these rods is still in existence. About two 
 years ago Dr. Rippard, of Westminster, Md., (since deceased) patented 
 a rod of similar construction, and through a fishing-tackle house an 
 effort was made to introduce them to the trade, but without success. 
 Recently Mr. C. Bremaker gave a description in " The American Angler'' 
 of a wire-centered rod of his own invention, and attested in strong 
 terms to its qualities of strength and pliancy. From the above notes it 
 will be seen that the invention (?) of Mr. Foster is not a new thing to 
 American anglers, many of whom do not see any value in a rod re-en- 
 forced on the wire-centered principle. 
 
 fThe Hancock enclosed reel has been for some time on the'American 
 market, and, notwithstanding the merit of the principle, it has fallen 
 flat ; owing mainly, I judge, from its weight and clumsiness. 
 
 % The Acme Line has not been introduced in this country. 
 
152 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 miniature windlass. This again is an improvement upon 
 old-style abominations. Who has not experienced annoy- 
 ance and loss from the entanglement of the line around 
 the fancifully turned winch handle, just at some critical 
 moment when line was imperatively wanted? And who 
 can measure the amount of loss this improvement alone, 
 when generally adopted, will prevent? 
 
 Multiplying reels are now discarded in favor of a plain 
 check reel without surplus and complicated cog wheels 
 to clog and get out of order. The new reel, shown upon 
 the new fly rod, is an ordinary reel put upon the butt in 
 the centre, instead of at the side of the rod butt. These 
 may be attached to any rod, when the socket is of a fit- 
 ting diameter. A small screw or rivet will secure it 
 permanently, or it may be temporarily screwed and used 
 upon it, as well as the handy side-fitting reels, and can 
 be put on any rod. 
 
 Throwing the Fly, contrasted with other branches 
 of the angling art, has been little written upon, and see- 
 ing that this is the chief obstacle in the path of the 
 beginner, and also the most important acquirement of 
 the proficient practitioner, we think the omission a serious 
 one. To this subject we have devoted much attention, 
 particularly in the construction of new and improved 
 implements for its more ready attainment and practice. 
 It is a well established axiom that in skillful casting lies 
 the chief condition of success. " He can throw a good 
 line," is equivalent to asserting the proficiency of a rod- 
 ster, whether he be fly, mid-water, or bottom fisher. 
 
 The ordinary routine cast is the first to be practised 
 and acquired by the tyro. This is accomplished by bring- 
 ing round the rod so as to describe a half circle from 
 over the left shoulder, and delivering it directly over the 
 right, the action emanating from the wrist and elbow 
 only. It is capital practice for the young student to cast 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 153 
 
 upon a lawn or any closely-cut turf. Line to the length 
 of the rod should first be delivered efficiently and neatly, 
 when a hat should be placed as the receptacle of the fly; 
 after the distances have been lengthened at intervals a 
 tumbler may be substituted, and finally a small wine 
 glass. When these different exercises have been success- 
 fully accomplished, with a fair length of line, the rodster 
 may safely try his hand upon the bosom of the wateiy 
 element. Lightness and. precision follow practice and 
 experience. The exercise of casting into a floating wal- 
 nut shell is a feat, the accomplishment of which, at a 
 distance of not less than a dozen yards, betokens a fair 
 degree of proficiency and precision in casting.* 
 
 In fly-fishing the ever changing geological bearings, 
 the varying meteorological influences, the position of 
 trees and other impediments, necessitate a constant 
 change of tactics in order to reach the feeding fish, who, 
 as they become more schooled, take up the most inacces- 
 sible and secluded positions. Although some streams are 
 comparatively narrow, it is not always incumbent upon, 
 or advisable for the fisherman to take up his stand upon 
 the verge of the water. "To fish fine and far off," as 
 Cotton, the father of all fly-fishers expresses it, is infi- 
 nitely better whenever practicable. Broken water should 
 be chosen by the novice to commence upon, as while fish 
 are extracted by him from the rapids, and purling 
 streams, etc., the slower running and still waters may 
 prove beyond his attainments. 
 
 After precision and lightness of execution are attained, 
 the casting distance should next be extended, and upon 
 this point we may briefly say that more depends upon 
 the line and rod than, generally speaking, upon the rod- 
 ster. With an unusually light and stiff rod it is often a 
 
 * "Accuracy and delicacy " are awarded first place by English fly-cast- 
 ers; "distance" second. This fact should be borne in mind by the 
 future managers of American Casting Tournaments. 
 
lo4 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 matter of great difficulty to get out properly a few odd 
 yards over double the rod's length. The same result 
 ensues when the reverse is the case, with a very pliable 
 tool fitted with a stout heavy line. The rod in this case 
 is in peril of parting in the middle, or ''breaking its 
 back" so to speak, whilst the line, if unreeled to any 
 extent, will constantly be in a state of entanglement. 
 A great deal depends upon getting accustomed to the 
 particular "swing" of the rod, as when this is the case 
 all other implements are generally rejected in favor of 
 "one like the last." Hence it is that so great a diversity 
 exists, even amongst the oldest and best hands, upon 
 every well frequented water. Another consideration is 
 the strength of the muscles. This has so important a 
 bearing on the wielding of the rod, that it is yearly more 
 and more taken into account by the gradual adoption of 
 shorter and lighter rods. As we have previously stated, 
 we have always paid considerable attention to the intro- 
 duction of suitable appliances for casting, and that more 
 especially upon fine and clear waters. The great diffi- 
 culty experienced by young fly-fishers in acquiring the 
 ability of getting out a good line, we have attempted to 
 remedy by the invention of an entirely new line, which, 
 from its peculiar construction, combines weight and 
 strength with excessive fineness. We allude to the now 
 well-know " Acme " fly-line, which, since its introduc- 
 tion, has given such general satisfaction that the practi- 
 cal results now manifest warrant the conclusion that by 
 the removal of the main stumbling block in the begin- 
 ner's path, namely, the difficulty of a good delivery in 
 casting, a great and important desideratum has been 
 attained. From the testimony made public through the 
 medium of the press, it has been proved that the throw- 
 ing powers of both tyro and proficient have been aug- 
 mented considerably by its use. We allude in detail to 
 its construction, etc., elsewhere. All that is needful to 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 155 
 
 be observed here is that through the medium of the 
 " Acme Wire-line " the novice may with a few hours' 
 practice, cast as effectually and efficiently as he might by 
 the practice of as many months with the old style lines.* 
 With reference to the degree of skill and proficiency in 
 the delivery of the fly, the talent of the oldest and best 
 fly-fishers varies. The real adept will adapt himself to 
 surrounding circumstances, casting over intervening 
 boughs and bushes, now over an impending rock or 
 boulder, or around some partially submerged substance 
 in midstream, or jutting portions of the river's bank, 
 without regard to any orthodox principle or rule. 
 
 In short, a thorough command of the rod and line is 
 as essential and important as the wielding of the whip in 
 the case of a tandem or four-in-hand drive. We are 
 reminded by this analogy that the most skillful cast we 
 ever knew wielded the whip: we refer to the famous 
 Eoyal coachman, Tom Bosworth : Old Tom had, in the 
 early part of his life, driven three British Sovereigns, 
 viz. — the Fourth George, the Fourth William, and finally, 
 for a lengthened period, Her Majesty Queen Victoria. As 
 a successful fisherman, Old Tom, when known to the 
 writer, was unsurpassed. He would often fish in the 
 wake of several rodsters, whose energy would exceed 
 their skill, and would extract not infrequently three 
 times their weight of fish, by skillfully and carefully 
 casting over the awkward and most unlikely looking 
 
 * I have carefully abstained from critical notes, as an indulgence in 
 them would have greatly encroached upon the space allotted me, but I 
 cannot pass by the claim of merit made for this new copper-threaded 
 line, without expressing my fear that the laudatory paragraphs are 
 simply advertising mediums used to place a profitable "tack" upon the 
 market. I do not doubt that long casts may be made with it — a 
 clothes line impelled by a sinewy arm would doubtless show a marvel- 
 lous reach — but the delicate delivery of the feathers, which, now and 
 then, on a passing breath of wind, will flutter as they fall, would be 
 sadly demoralized by the drag of this metallic re-enforcement of a reel 
 line. 
 
156 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER, 
 
 spots, Avhich the majority of anglers would rarely dream 
 of trying. A favorite freak of his with the whip was to 
 take the pipe from the teeth of a passing pedestrian by a 
 carefully calculated whirl of the lash, and this aptitude 
 was as remarkably exemplified, for a limited distance, in 
 his use of the rod. Bos worth originated the Coachman 
 Fly, so much appreciated for night-fishing. 
 
 The cast most useful in boisterous weather is the Welsh 
 or Spey Throw. This is more commonly known to fly- 
 fishers for salmon. The line is whisked off the water by 
 an upward and backward movement of the rod, but is 
 delivered forward again by a rapid lower whisk of the 
 rod's upper portion, just as the last of the reel-line leaves 
 the top of the water. This raises the line above all im- 
 pediments and encumbrances in the shape of bushes, etc., 
 fringing the river's bank. * Personally we make our 
 longest cast by it. The usually-deemed impregnable po- 
 sitions of the most choice and best fed fish are brought 
 under fire by a resort to this cast, as indeed are all fish 
 out of the reach of the usual run of rodsters. Some fly- 
 fishers appear never to aspire to a greater distance than 
 the width of the stream or brook most fished by them. 
 For mountain or moorland stream, Scottish beck and 
 burn, and AYelsh torrent, this may answer amply, but 
 upon the comparatively wide and open water something 
 further and more extensive is needed. Every fly-fisher 
 should be able to cast at least twenty yards of reel-line. 
 The importance of artistically getting out the lure is 
 
 * The Welsh or Spey Throw is identical with the " underhand " or 
 "rolling" cast, introduced by Mr. Pritchard at the New York Casting 
 Tournament, with which he made a cast of ninety-one feet, by actual 
 measurement. This unprecedented official record 1 can vouch for, 
 which my presence in the boat of the judges enables me to do. The 
 Foster Brothers who have compiled the notes of the author, their father, 
 claim that he or they have thrown, with a Bingle handed fly rod and the 
 Acme line, ninety-seveu-and-a-half feet. This cast unfortunately for 
 its value of record, is not official. 
 
FLY FISHING FOE TKOUT AND GRAYLING. 15? 
 
 fully recognized in districts where the natural surround- 
 ings render it a matter of vital importance, but as a gen- 
 eral thing it is a point not so well practised or understood 
 as could be wished. 
 
 Striking requires a keen eye, and a quick wrist-effect 
 to a greater extent than is easy to be conceived by the 
 tyro. A really accomplished fly-fisher is not so frequent- 
 ly heard to complain of the fish rising short. A dilatory 
 rodster, whenever the fish prove too quick by rejecting 
 the steel-hearted lure, after giving him the customary 
 "pluck," falls back upon the old and convenient excuses, 
 the tendency of which is to charge the effect of his own 
 shortcomings to the fish. Many theories are expounded 
 in reference to the matter of striking. Some anglers re- 
 commend an instantaneous "knock," others advise a 
 momentary pause after the lure has been closed upon as 
 being the correct thing, and some affirm that, owing to 
 the difficulty of acquiring the right "knack" of driving 
 home the delicate fly-hook, far more fish are lost by an 
 unnecessarily heavy and spirited motion of the rod in a 
 moment of excitement than if striking were not adopted 
 at all. The late Mr. James Ogden, an old friend of ours, 
 never let slip an opportunity of declaiming against random 
 striking, always affirming that young and inexperienced an- 
 glers lose the major portion of the fish they raise through 
 awkwardness in this matter. " I have " — says he, in the 
 columns of a leading sporting journal — ' ' in the course of 
 my experience seen some of the best rods and tackle 
 broken by this means, during a momentary excitement. 
 I strongly recommend young fishermen not to strike at 
 all." We can fully endorse this statement ; but to be 
 more explicit, although it may be advisable for the youth- 
 ful aspirant to avoid needless disaster, it is certainly ad- 
 visable that he should acquire the right and ready 
 "knack" of hooking- his rise in an effective and skillful 
 
158 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 manner. The result of our experience upon this subject 
 is as follows: — 
 
 First : — It is an exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, 
 thing to successfully hook a fish that has risen at the 
 end of sixteen to eighteen yards of line, in the event of 
 his not hooking himself, as the impetus given to the line 
 through the medium of the rod on the appearance of a 
 rise, reaches the scene of action too late to be of any 
 utility. As a matter of course, when the feeding fish are 
 near at hand, and the line is taut and straight, a small 
 jerk from the wrist will have full chance of being effec- 
 tual, and in this case the single moment's grace may be 
 granted with safety in still water, as the trout are, gen- 
 erally speaking, more leisurely in their movements. 
 It is essential that the details appended should be 
 thoroughly mastered in order to attain proficiency. Our 
 own private plan, after the delivery of the fly in the ex- 
 tending circle of the last rise, is to look out for the 
 gleaming side of the fish as it rises, in order to get which 
 the eye should be centred within the circle, but some 
 little distance nearer the rodster. "When this habit is 
 contracted, as it easily is with practice, wonderful accu- 
 racy will be attained in efficient striking, even at the 
 longest distances.* 
 
 Second: — The action and amount of force required to 
 hook the fish, are an intricate matter to deal with definite- 
 ly, as so much depends upon the bearings of the situa- 
 tion. That small fish require gentle usage, whilst com- 
 paratively large ones necessarily require more impulsive 
 treatment, is an aphorism well known to all : but that 
 the rodster. should be cognizant to a nicety of the weight- 
 sustaining power of the fine tackle, and should also be 
 able to calculate accurately the probable result of a saii- 
 
 * When fishing down stream on our mountain trout waters, the fish, 
 nine times in ten, hook themselves ; at least such has been my own ex- 
 perience. 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 159 
 
 guine stroke of the hook upon the hard and bony part; 
 or, upon the other hand, on the soft and impressible 
 portion of the fish's body, is altogether another thing. 
 Beyond this an accurate estimate of the elasticity of the 
 line, etc., should be possessed, and the striking motion 
 accelerated or modified accordingly.* The action requi- 
 site is a short, quick, wrist-motion, commenced sharply, 
 but ended almost instantly and abruptly, like a quick 
 movement of the hand in bringing a foil in fencing from 
 tierce to carte. The hand holding the rod is turned up- 
 wards and backwards, whilst the arm is stationary when 
 a short line is out, the movement being lengthened when 
 the intervening line is either long or loose. One of the 
 greatest charms of fly-fishing lies undoubtedly in the 
 comparative absence of routine and sameness. The plier 
 of the rod must adapt himself to ever-changing circum- 
 stances. It is a curious thing, and one that we have 
 often been puzzled to account for satisfactorily, that it so 
 frequently happens that precisely as the first trout is 
 hooked, so are all subsequent captures throughout the 
 day. 
 
 This fact first forcibly impressed us many years since. 
 We were fishing in company with Mr. Eamsbottom, of 
 Clitheroe, Lancashire, who wished to try salmon roe, f 
 as a bait for trout upon the Dove, suitable tackle for 
 which had been baited by our friend for our personal use, 
 we being then uninitiated in the mystic "roe" fishing. 
 Before rod No. 2 was equipped for action we had hooked 
 a fish, which was ultimately landed. The hook proved 
 to be imbedded in the tongue, a somewhat unusual thing, 
 
 * The autbor, to my surprise, fails to note the relative merits of rods 
 in this question of when to strike, viz: a "whippy" rod, which is slow 
 in action, and a stiff, though pliant, rod which responds quickly to the 
 wrist-turn. 
 
 t The use of roe for bait is now prohibited by the law of the realm. 
 
160 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 as we then remarked. " Every fish we take this day will 
 be hooked similarly," coolly prognosticated our friend. 
 At the time we confess to having been rather sceptical 
 as to the likelihood of this proving accurate, but the 
 result verified the prediction, for every fish that fell to 
 our steel upon that occasion was firmly hooked in the 
 tongue. Had the hold of the hook been slight in the 
 first instance, say near the external bordering of the 
 mouth, we were assured that our take would have been 
 diminished, as this would have indicated that the fish 
 were not in a feeding mood, and would therefore close 
 upon the bait in a faint-hearted manner. The same is 
 exemplified in fly-fishing, though perhaps not in a degree 
 so conspicuously marked. The first fish indicates, as 
 a rule, the temporary state of the whole of his fellows, 
 whether hunger-bitten or eager, or fastidious and in- 
 different. 
 
 In striking a grayling, it behooves the rodster to be 
 extremely careful, as not only is the fish excessively deli- 
 cate and tender-skinned about the mouth, but the tackle, 
 being finer, is less calculated to sustain any sudden 
 wrench. This is not the case with larger quarry; a few 
 weeks', or even days' lake fronting, will put out the hand 
 for fine grayling fishing for some length of time. What 
 Ave have always found a safe antidote in these cases is to 
 carefully keep a taut line, and immediately a fisli rises to 
 give a forward motion of the rod a foot or so. The 
 downward action of the line thus eased, has the effect of 
 sending in the little delicate hook without the most re- 
 mote chance of danger. This may appear incredible in 
 theory, but we can answer for its efficiency in practice. 
 In rapid stream fishing a modification of the usual twist 
 of the wrist may be given in the case of the grayling, 
 where rapidity is the essential point; the twist here re- 
 ferred to should describe a downward direction, as when 
 this is done the first action of the rod tip is directly 
 
Plate 4. 
 
 161 
 
FLY FISHING FOK TEOUT AXD GRAYLIXG. 163 
 
 upwards and opposite. The extent of the momentum 
 ranges according to the pliability of the rod. 
 
 Playing a Fish comes next in order. The instant a 
 fish is hooked the rod should be mounted at a proper 
 angle, so as to feel the fish. The tactics to be employed 
 vary in accordance with the lay of the water, as also with 
 the conduct of the fish hooked, as when he descends im- 
 mediately upon being struck, pulling heavily in the deep 
 water, fighting hard for his hold, or neighboring shelter, 
 it may be certainly inferred that he is safely hooked ; but 
 when he exhibits a tendency to fight it out near the sur- 
 face, occasionally attempting to clear the water altogether, 
 he is, as a general rule, but lightly hooked, and if not 
 carefully handled, will to a certainty be lost. The proper 
 method of playing a fish in open water that is clear from 
 weeds, sticks, etc., is to give him plenty of line, and play 
 him until he is completely exhausted, cautiously keeping 
 the rod on a regular bend; but in rapid and turbulent 
 rivers playing a fish is certain to end, not only in the loss 
 of the fish, but also of a portion of your tackle. 
 
 There are scarcely any rivers free from portions of trees 
 lying concealed in the deep waters, the small holes being 
 well stocked with branches. In the shallow waters there 
 are plenty of piles placed regularly a few yards apart, 
 which are generally laid to prevent depredations by nets, 
 and are seldom unfurnished with branches of trees, etc. 
 When a fish is surprised by being hooked, his first move- 
 ment is to dart upon the most convenient stick or pile, 
 and with the rapidity of thought, entwine your tackle 
 two or three times round it; then he makes good his 
 escape. If he darts into a bed of weeds he stays there, 
 and the line is hopelessly entwined, and you are left to 
 liberate it as you may. jSTotwithstanding these obstruc- 
 tions, the experienced fly-fisher seldom loses a single fish 
 in the course of a day or two's fishing, though the gut 
 tackle he uses is as fine as possible. When a fish is 
 
164 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 hooked in a stream, a moderate heavy bend should be 
 immediately put upon the rod, the rodster keeping oppo- 
 site his prey whenever the bank admits of it, and where 
 this is impracticable line should be given and taken as 
 occasion requires, and circumstances dictate. When the 
 tackle is light and fine, and the quarry large, we com- 
 monly resort to this expedient, which seldom indeed 
 fails. We suddenly stay all show of opposition and head 
 the fish rather than otherwise a little in the direction he 
 makes for so desperately. Iu open water, where this is 
 more practicable, ninety-nine times out of a hundred he 
 becomes utterly confounded at the sudden change, and 
 will make a faint effort at a new departure in a side di- 
 rection and widely different angle, but quickly shows 
 broadside, and yields. This may appear incredible in 
 theory; we are, however, speaking from our own expe- 
 rience, and can vouch for its practical result. AVhenever 
 a fish is safely hooked it is, as a rule, the fisher's own 
 fault if he be ultimately lost. Personally, we never 
 pass a feeding fish because of his locating in what is 
 usually deemed an " awkward spot." "What's the use 
 of trying for that fish?" queries a passing rodster. "It 
 would be impossible to land him were you to get hold." 
 
 It has always been our policy to get hold first, as a 
 preliminary ceremony, which done, the landing question 
 is an after consideration. The notion of the main mass 
 of anglers would appear to be, that if an unusually cun- 
 ning fish takes up an impregnable looking position he is 
 to be religiously left unassailed. "Breakers ahead" 
 seem to be scented by the over-cautious pliers of the rod, 
 when the chances of conquest are really " as even " as in 
 less dangerous localities; and even supposing this were 
 not so, the greater the difficulty the more exciting the 
 sport, and the keener the pleasure. There is no necessity 
 for lugging out instanter a hooked fish. In these cir- 
 cumstances a short line and a sturdy pliant rod will avert 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 165 
 
 endless disaster, and by holding on like grim death at 
 one end of the line, whilst the terrified fish holds on in a 
 similar style at the other, the yery largest and heaviest 
 fish are to be generally exhausted, and that with small 
 risk of failure. 
 
 Amongst the precepts to be impressed upon the mind 
 of the novice are the following: Never play a fish 
 against a stream,* as by that means an additional weight 
 is thrown upon the line and tackle, which in all cases is 
 particularly undesirable, as in the event of the tackle 
 holding to its tether, there is danger of the fish being 
 forcibly torn away from the hook. A small fish drawn 
 against the stream, strains the tackle inconceivably. 
 Whenever a fish makes for weeds, roots, or submerged 
 timber at the rodster's side of the river, do not potter 
 with the reel, but haul in the line by the left hand, 
 allowing it to fall at the feet, f The height of absurdity 
 to the mind of the writer is the sight of a stalwart fisher- 
 man comfortably winding away at the miniature wind- 
 lass, in an endeavor to hoist a hooked fish that has 
 secreted himself amongst roots, sunken sticks, piles, or 
 other mischief, as though, seeing he had been observed 
 to go in, there was not the least ground for doubts as to 
 his being speedily got out again. Wherever weeds are most 
 prevalent in a trout stream, there the best fish congre- 
 gate. Like pike, they love to secrete themselves in the 
 green shades of aquatic vegetation, from whence they 
 can dart upon their unexpecting prey. Whenever sur- . 
 face food is sufficiently tempting, they leave their cover, 
 generally rising upon the less frequented side of the 
 water, where they have still the full benefit of the weed 
 beds which intervene between them and their would-be 
 
 * Most excellent adyice, but difficult to follow, when fishing down 
 stream. 
 
 tThe author refers to bank fishing with stalwart tackle. 
 
166 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 captors. It is often most tantalizing to lose one fish 
 after another in a vain attempt to keep them from their 
 weedy retreat; the position of this between the rodster 
 and their fish, coupled with the circumstance of a long 
 line being necessary to reach the rising fish, gives the 
 latter every chance of escape, which, in fact, amply ac- 
 counts for the presence of the best and finest fish in such 
 quarters. In these cases an exceptional course of pro- 
 cedure may without complication be resorted to. 
 
 Immediately a fish is hooked, line and rod must be 
 held in readiness for the first dash of the fish to the 
 weeds. The interval, as a rule, is not long, as the 
 moment they feel the hook's points, and recover from 
 their consternation, instinct prompts them to make for 
 the friendly shelter of the weeds, which, if entered, the 
 chances are the fisher loses both fish and flies, with a 
 portion of gut lash to boot. To avert this the line must 
 be hauled in as rapidly as possible by the left and disen- 
 gaged hand, whilst the rod's point must be brought 
 back at right angles from the water, should the fish per- 
 mit it. As a general rule, upon all moderately large 
 streams these combined tactics have the effect of bring- 
 ing up the fish, before the right angle is described, as in 
 the case of a rod twelve feet long for example, the line is 
 shortened by twenty-four feet. When the head of the 
 fish is thus brought to the surface he must be assiduously 
 held there, line being gradually and carefully taken in as 
 he flounders over the weed beds. A freshly hooked fish 
 will be found to force a passage by the stern or tail 
 action, when firmly held by the head, infinitely better 
 than the rodster unaided, in the case of an exhausted 
 fish, could do it for him. 
 
 We well recollect once fishing upon the Wye (Derby- 
 shire), at Bakewell, when the main incident of the day 
 had a direct bearing upon the subject now before us, and 
 may serve as an illustration of what we have endeavored 
 
FLY FISHING FOE TKOUT AND GRAYLING. 167 
 
 to point out. It was about the middle of April, the 
 morning clear and keen, the night preceding had been 
 dry and frosty. Before noon myriads of flies were out, 
 whirling in ceaseless activity in the warm rays of the 
 sun. We had been casting in a pre-occupied sort of way 
 up to this time, occasionally creeling a small fish, and 
 now and then imparting some little practical hint to a 
 companion under our tuition. Now that the flies were 
 numerous, the fish turned out to feed, and our lethargy 
 was shaken off in the anticipation of a consequent change. 
 During the half hour ensuing, we had experienced ex- 
 ceptionally good sport, and whilst thus busily engaged 
 the old keeper came down stream, opened conversation 
 upon fish, fishing, etc., and seemed in no hurry to de- 
 prive us of the benefit of his attendance. 
 
 "Where does the best of your fish lie, keeper?" we 
 inquired after a time. 
 
 "Oh, up by the bridge yonder, there's as nice a lot o' 
 fish there as anywhere i' th' river." 
 
 "How far is it up stream from here?" queries our 
 companion. 
 
 " Better than two miles, sir; you can do it in twenty 
 minutes or thereabouts." 
 
 Having no special desire to test the accuracy of this 
 statement, we ultimately agreed to fish up. After the 
 lapse of about an hour or so, we arrived upon the spot 
 indicated, in company with the keeper. Here, for about 
 a stone's throw from the bridge, were dense masses of 
 weeds, through which the water passed in narrow chan- 
 nels. The position was not favorable, there being in the 
 immediate background a display of evergreen shrubs, 
 etc., which looked ill for the safety of the tackle. 
 "Well, here we are at last," exclaims our pupil. 
 
 " Yes, gentlemen," put in the old man, "there's any 
 amount o' fish in, but plague take um, nobody can get 
 um out; the best fisherman we have canner manage um." 
 
168 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 "Ah! how do you account for that?"' we inquired. 
 
 " Oh, them weeds bother um; they loses the fish and 
 tackle an' all; " and after delivering himself of this grati- 
 fying reflection, the old keeper calmly inserted his pipe 
 between his teeth, and his hands in the pockets of his 
 breeches, as a preliminary to seeing the fun. At the 
 secoud or third cast we hooked a fish, and by a strict and 
 prompt application of the tactics previously described, 
 the fish wriggled through the breakers in a style thor- 
 oughly earnest and effective. Once clear of the weeds 
 we relaxed the pressure upon the rod, playing the fish at 
 the extremity of a short line until exhausted. 
 
 "You've been very lucky with this un, sir." 
 
 "We shall be equally as lucky you will find with the 
 next," was our reply. At the very next cast the game 
 was repeated, with the same result, nor did we desist 
 until we had sufficiently punished the cunning old fox, 
 by an extract sufficient to cram both creels with the lazy 
 mousters, whose presence near the bridge we knew to be 
 the keepers pride. 
 
 Laxdixg. — In trout fishing the landing-net should in- 
 variably be included in the necessary apparatus.* The 
 tackle is never constructed with a view to extract fish 
 bodily out of their element, moreover it is anything but 
 
 * This matter of landing-nets recalls to mind a novel accident when 
 fishing some years ago on Tim Grey's Run in Lycoming Co., Pa. After 
 walking some miles up the run. which at the time was veiy full and 
 rapid, I entered the stream to find, on killing my first fish, that my 
 landing-net was missing. Like all other earnest trouters I was not dis- 
 mayed, and soon improvised a net out of my rather stiff-brimmed fishing 
 hat. How awkwardly I used it must be blushingly untold, but the last 
 fish, a good stout fellow with muscles of iron, that it was used upon, 
 gave a flirt out of it, and at the same moment an extra whirl of the 
 down pouring waters flirted the improvised net out of my hand, and 
 from that hour I have never seen ray Derby. It went spinning and dip- 
 ping down the stream which was bank hi<ih and in full vigor of current. 
 I continued to fish, hatless, for hours, landing my victims on the shore 
 whenever an apt spot appeared. 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 169 
 
 sportsman-like to attempt it. When it is desired to net 
 a fish, the usual rule is to head the capture to the nearest 
 available place if it should be impracticable where hooked; 
 and in all cases the net should be the medium by which 
 the quarry is conveyed to land. It may appear a very 
 simple matter to the unpractical mind to net an already 
 hooked fish, but anglers of experience know well, too 
 well, perhaps, that indiscretion and undue haste in land- 
 ing, or even presenting the net to a supposed exhausted 
 fish will cause him to make yet another plunge, when 
 least expected, for life and liberty. We always use the 
 net with our disengaged hand, holding it edgeways, part- 
 ly to enter the water readily, so as to get beneath the 
 fish, and partly to meet the fish, which is so brought 
 round as to enter the nee forcibly. Bungling aid we have 
 always found worse than no assistance ; and when the 
 practice of netting one's own fish is acquired we feel sure 
 anglers generally will find it much more advantageous 
 and satisfactory. Nothing is more common than for an 
 awkward servant or attendant to hit the quarry by pok- 
 ing at him with the sharp rim of the net, instead of 
 placing it under as he is brought near, thus knocking the 
 fish off the hook, if not otherwise breaking the tackle. 
 Who has not some painful remembrance of some deplor- 
 able loss of this kind ? For our own part we have had 
 quite sufficient lessons, not in trout alone, but in salmon 
 and pike-fishmg, to cause us to refrain from trusting our 
 net to any individual not thoroughly acquainted with the 
 use and handling of it. 
 
 Grayling especially require delicate handling when 
 about to be netted, for should the rod be unconsciously 
 elevated, so as to cause the weight of the fish to rest upon 
 the hook and tackle, the fish is in great danger of being 
 lost by the hook breaking away under the strain. Fish 
 should not be pulled even in part out of the water whilst 
 the net is placed under them, as this always causes danger 
 
3 70 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 of breakage, from the cause stated. The tail end of the 
 fish, particularly of a large one, is to be inserted first in 
 the net, except in special cases, as when for instance, the 
 quarry heads close by the rodster, up or down stream, 
 when the net may be used as a receptacle for him to head 
 into, when within reach. 
 
 The best times to fish, the seasonable flies and other 
 information for the fly-fisher, we give in the Monthly 
 Xotes. "We now purpose dealing more generally with the 
 subject of fly-fishing in its various bearings. Fishing in 
 rapid streams requires tactics somewhat different from 
 those suitable for ordinary smooth running river, or still- 
 water fishing. In these no humoring actions are re- 
 quired to be given to the fly. To draw against or even 
 across stream in these circumstances is to extend to it an 
 unnatural motion. The flies must be cast a few feet 
 above the dimply indication of a rise, and then allowed 
 to float over. This may be repeated several times before 
 moving on, especially if casting over grayling, as these 
 fish are given to take the proffered lure more often than 
 not when passed over repeatedly. With regard to the 
 vexed question of up or down-stream fishing, no strict 
 rule need be observed; a continuous resort to either is not 
 desirable. Adherents of the one deprecate the ever- 
 recurring nuisance of the line becoming slack when cast 
 up stream by the downward flow of water, thus lessening, 
 after each delivery, the chances of a rise by the fly being 
 brought again home to the feet. Upon the other side of 
 the question we have arguments in plenty against down- 
 stream fishing, the most important being the habitual 
 position of the fish heading up-stream, and therefore in 
 full ken of the operations instigated for his allurement.* 
 
 Our method of fishing a strange stream is, after pros- 
 
 *The proportion of "down stream " to "up stream" fishers in Amer- 
 ican waters is probably one-hundred to or.e. 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 171 
 
 pecting the length to be operated upon the night or early 
 morn previous, to commence at its lower end, and casting, 
 as we have attempted to describe previously, according to 
 the lay of the land and water and general surroundings, 
 now across, or slanting upward, and occasionally, though 
 rarely, downwards. Where -a continuous succession of 
 stream and pool arc met with, each should be well and 
 carefully fished. One of the best and most killing styles 
 of still- water fishing with the fly is the sunk-fly system. 
 This consists in drowning the flies, so to speak, so that 
 they will readily, though gradually descend, and working 
 them very gently by a very minute movement of the rod 
 tip. The very finest gut line is essential for the success- 
 ful practice of this mode. The same method may be 
 applied to the deep slower running streams, with deadly 
 effect, when the fish refuse to rise to the surface. The 
 dry-fly system is, however, by far the most scientific and 
 artistic way of alluring either trout or grayling, and well 
 fished streams will yield more and heavier dishes of those 
 fish to it than to any method or system of angling what- 
 ever. At twilight, and in the "gloaming" of evening, 
 as also in night fishing, it is advisable to cast across and 
 rather down-stream, as the line cannot be kept so well 
 under hand, the command over it being less according to 
 the density of the gathering gloom. Sometimes the sunk- 
 fly method is to be applied to the sharp running streams 
 with signal success, as may also the dry-fly style to the 
 quieter stills and pools. A change in this respect often 
 proves advantageous, even upon well whipped waters, the 
 educated inhabitants of which so soon fight shy of the 
 persistently applied lures. Whenever one side of a river 
 or stream is habitually well-lined with fishermen, the fish 
 generally rise for the most part close to the opposite 
 bank, in most cases close to the edge of the water. The 
 plan to practice in these circumstances is to cast directly 
 out upon the opposite bank, and allow the end to drop in 
 
172 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 a casual sort of way into the water, where it is generally 
 seized instantly. 
 
 Fly-fishing for grayling and trout are not altogether 
 identical, as we have elsewhere shown. Both fish are fre- 
 quently found, however, in the same water, and are to be 
 taken with the same cast of flies. Finer tackle, as a rule, 
 is required in the case of the former, as also smaller and 
 brighter flies. In most trout streams of note grayling 
 are found in profusion in their lower portion, where the 
 water flows more serenely. Here they locate near the 
 bottom, even when surface feeding; therefore, if the dry 
 floating-fly is preferable in the case of the trout, it is 
 doubly so in that of the grayling, which, though perhaps 
 more expert as a fly-catcher habitually, rises a much 
 greater distance to absorb it. We contend, therefore, 
 that in the surface cast and draw method, the fish is 
 scarcely allowed a chance to get within seizing distance. 
 This once prevailing practice of trailing along the cast is 
 now being discarded, and deservedly so. How it should 
 have so long held sway we never could conceive. That 
 fish are occasionally taken by it we know, and that they 
 are more often abashed by it, we understand as being a 
 perfectly rational result; but how the fisherman who trails 
 his lines across, or slant ways over a stream, at so rapid a 
 pace as to leave a trail similar to that of a passing rat or 
 water-hen, can imagine he is extending to the flies a 
 natural and seductive action, wo confess is entirely beyond 
 us. The whole of the land-flies appear naturally out of 
 their clement upon the water, and are at the mercy of 
 wind and wave, especially upon broken water; upon the 
 stills they certainly have a little more power, so as to en- 
 able them to essay a paddling excursion with a view to 
 escape impending perils; but even here, either the float- 
 ing, or the sunk, or drowned fly is found preferable to 
 the insane system of trailing. The native water insects, 
 as every fly-fisher worthy of the name knows, are quite 
 
FLY FISHIXG FOE TROUT AND GRAYLING. 173 
 
 " at home " upon the element, floating down stream with 
 their wings erect in the case of the ephemerals, like the 
 minute craft upon a marine engraving. To meet the case 
 of the fluttering land-flies, wingless or buzzy artificials 
 answer amply. With the duns the wings must be both 
 full and erect, or "cock-up" as it is sometimes designated, 
 so as to admit of the fly being kept comparatively dry for 
 some little time, when, becoming saturated, a few back- 
 ward and forward whisks of the line and rod should be 
 given before the delivery of the cast again. This is re- 
 peated whenever the flies become saturated, as by so 
 doing the trouble of repeatedly changing the lure is 
 greatly lessened. 
 
 Fly-fishing in brooks is practised much the same as in 
 large and more open waters. Where the banks of narrow 
 water are clear of encumbrances, the rodstsr should fish 
 some distance away, so as to avoid needlessly exposing 
 the person and purpose. The flies for brooks and tribu- 
 taries of good "trouting" streams should be somewhat 
 larger than those used for the main streams, to enable the 
 fisherman to land his prey safely and quickly, as, where 
 the water is turbulent and confined, the fish have greater 
 chances of breaking away. Often the least leniency will 
 be rewarded by an entanglement Avith sticks or roots of 
 trees; playing in these circumstances is, therefore, not to 
 be considered for an instant. The flies here alluded to 
 are suitable for discolored waters generally, the hook, 
 hackle, and wing being somewhat larger to withstand 
 rough usage. The same order of land and water insects 
 appear upon all running waters containing trout or gray- 
 ling, no matter where situated; nevertheless, some ang- 
 lers will persist in presenting upon all and every occasion, 
 a wonderful fly or two which is said to kill upon that 
 river only. For our part, we may state, that we never 
 make any distinction in our list of flies, no matter what 
 river we may cast over. We have often heard the phrase 
 
174 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 " Your flies are too large for this water," or — " Your flies 
 are too small to kill here, sir." Upon some "Welsh and 
 Scottish streams, the fly-fishers use unduly large flies, 
 whilst upon clear spring waters, the local flies are exces- 
 sively small, and in this case invariably hackled. Both 
 large and small flies are objectionable when they do not 
 correspond with the ''naturals" frequenting the water. 
 We can testify from our own experience, that the flies, 
 irrespective of locality, are the same as regards size upon 
 every river in England, Wales, or Scotland; even those 
 upon mountain lakes, situated in some cases at great 
 elevation, are similar, in their season, both as regards size 
 and color, to those upon low-lying rivers. 
 
 Fancy flies, when used judiciously at the right time, 
 may answer just as well for trout, and especially for gray- 
 ling, as they do for salmon; indeed, the two last-named, 
 have many characteristics in common; both display an 
 effeminate appreciation of gaudy glitter and happy com- 
 bination of colors, whilst the more circumspect and subtle 
 trout often ignores the unnatural ''artificials," though 
 presented temptingly. The most important of nonde- 
 script ''artificials" are, beyond doubt, the bumble tribes. 
 These in their various shades seldom fail to kill, when no 
 rising of naturals has occurred during the day, or when 
 there is a miscellaneous host of " oddlings " about the 
 water, under which latter circumstances the palmered 
 "artificials" are undoubtedly taken for some one of the 
 flies about. Another usef ul •" child of fancy" is the flat 
 gold-bodied whistler fly. This is hackled with red-brown 
 pigeon's breast feather, or with that of the whistling 
 plover, from which it takes its name. This fly is really 
 valuable for discolored, and even thick rising water. 
 Many are the times we have, instead of leaving the 
 rapidly-rising river in disgust, killed a good dish of fish 
 through its sole agency. Upon the Wharf e, upon a 
 late occasion, we took trout sufficient to fill our creel some 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 175 
 
 five times, had they been all retained, whilst several an- 
 glers who had repaired to the same length returned to the 
 hotel, under the impression that the water was too thick 
 for the worm. 
 
 When the fish are basking, during the mid-day hours 
 in the hot summer months, they are not always to be 
 drawn to the surface by small flies. The red caterpillar, 
 elsewhere described, we believe to be unsurpassed for 
 trout and large grayling at mid-day; and when cast as a 
 night-fly in the "gloaming" of evening. Browns and 
 gaudily-dressed lake flies, too, when cast and played like 
 a minnow, just below the surface of the water, are good. 
 But the combination more suitable for this method is the 
 dressing known as the "Alexandra fly." This is as large 
 as a full-sized Sewin fly, the hook employed being a 
 Limerick, the shank carefully wrapped with broad silver 
 tinsel, to represent the body; the wings, if any, consist 
 of a dozen strands or so of brown turkey feather; hackles, 
 blue feathers from the peacock's neck. This fly was orig- 
 inally introduced by Dr. Hobbs, some fifteen years ago. 
 Upon well- wooded, swift-running waters it is most useful; 
 the line is allowed to run out with the current, being then 
 drawn back up-stream by a series of short jerks that serve 
 to open and shut the fibres of the hackle, thus exposing 
 the white body only at intervals, at measured distances. 
 It is surprising how the fish will follow and take this fly 
 when in the "running" mood.* It is, most certainly, 
 far superior to the minnow, from the fly-fisher's point of 
 view. 
 
 In angling there are various influences that affect the 
 fish, and which are as yet but little understood. Not 
 only are their habits and movements most important to 
 the angler, but, for the better pursuit of sport, meteoro- 
 logical changes and influences should also be noted by the 
 
 * They doubtless mistake it for a big bug making frantic efforts to 
 leave the water. 
 
176 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 observant student. To some it is not known that the 
 temperature of the water is most frequently responsible 
 forbad "taking" days; Ave habitually carry a small in- 
 strument, by no means generally used by fishermen, we 
 refer to a small pocket thermometer. This proves most 
 useful in ascertaining the temperature of the water, either 
 at tho surface or at the bottom. By the use of such an 
 instrument the observant angler soon learns that when 
 the water is of unusually low temperature, the moving 
 fish will be rare, notwithstanding the favorable atmos- 
 pheric temperature. When the air is cold and the water 
 proves at a higher degree than common, the fish will be 
 certain to be more or less on the feed; but when both 
 atmosphere and water are genial, every description of fish 
 will be fouud to be upon the "forage" for prey, if not 
 satiated by some proper food supply. The observant 
 fisherman upon any particular water soon finds out much 
 more to guide him in his choice of fishing. The water 
 of different rivers and streams, as a matter of course, 
 varies, and the fisher in any particular water should ascer- 
 tain precisely, not only the prevailing temperature of the 
 water, but that in which the fish feed most eagerly, as 
 also when it is useless trying to tempt them to "rise" or 
 "run." The old nostrums anent weather wisdom are 
 mainly inaccuracies. In the coldest eastern or north- 
 eastern wind we have killed repeatedly many a fine basket 
 of fish, owing to the temperature of the water being high 
 and unusually genial from some cause or other. 
 
 The ancient belief in the stoppage of sport during a 
 thunder-storm is not strictly true. Some little time be- 
 fore the breaking of the storm atmospheric influence 
 appears to act detrimentally, almost invariably through 
 the warmer months, but during the storm itself the fish 
 will rise more often than not, most eagerly at the numer- 
 ous insects drowned during the down-pour, and this too, 
 whilst the electric fluid gleams and the thunder roars 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 177 
 
 immediately overhead, all without visible effect upon the 
 fish. As regards the fisherman we fear the same obser- 
 vations do not apply with equal truth. The nearest 
 sycamore tree or honeysuckle hedge is sought, and the 
 angler is seldom to be convinced, save by practical argu- 
 ments, that the time for taking fish is while the rain 
 falls, just as the time for making hay is while the sun 
 shines, as the old adage has it. 
 
 Between the tyro and the proficient grayling fisher 
 there exists a wider gulf than is the case with the ex- 
 perienced and inexperienced in any other branch in the 
 whole art of fishing. Practical skill and general artistic 
 bearing are more fully exemplified in fishing for grayling, 
 than for trout and salmon, whilst upon the same ground 
 the unskilled efforts of the bungler stand at a yet more 
 glaring contrast. Mark the long sweeping casts of the 
 adept across and up-stream, ever true to the circulating 
 eddy, the centre of which forms the "bull's-eye" at 
 which to aim. See the gradually whirled line, how 
 lightly and efficiently it is cast, the obstructive force of 
 the air and the flowing water being all taken into con- 
 sideration when that measured swing is given. Observe 
 the varying tactics resorted to when called for in varying 
 circumstances, and yet above all the efficient mode of 
 handling the hooked fish while it makes determined 
 efforts to free itself from the tiny thread so recently 
 ignored, and to avoid the necessity of a premature move to 
 other parts of the stream through undue disturbance of 
 the water. Upon the other hand the inexj)erienced gray- 
 ling fisher's awkwardly managed line is planted splash- 
 ingly upon the bosom of some tranquil pool or still deep 
 — the collar, dancing and dangling in its aerial flight, 
 becoming hopelessly entangled (as it inevitably must) 
 the instant it nears the water, and causing a break 
 larger than the bold rise of a heavy fish. All these signs 
 make the presence of their owner known and appreci- 
 
178 THE SCIENTIFIC AjSTGLEE. 
 
 ated, both upon the banks and beneath the surface of 
 the water. 
 
 Fly-fishing at twilight and afterwards is prohibited, 
 and justly so, in some districts. The deadly nature of 
 the practice presents no recommendations to the true 
 sportsman; . nevertheless, where the water is over- run 
 with excessively large fish, whose acquired wariness pro- 
 hibits them from surface feeding during the day, they 
 may with perfect honesty of purpose be legitimately 
 extracted at such times as they may deign to dine. The 
 cast for night fishing should not exceed two yards, the 
 gut being of medium thickness, though round and with- 
 out flaw or blemish. One fly is ample to fish with, 
 though upon a moonlight night, the usual trio may be 
 used with the three-yards lash. When the evening 
 shades gather and deepen, the fish will be found to rise 
 more upon the verge of the shadow thrown upon the 
 water by high banks, or foliage situate near. We do not 
 commend the use of salmon casts and swivelled monster 
 moths, etc. This may be all very well in peculiar sur- 
 roundings, when the night is densely dark and the water 
 well lined with sticks and piles, but under these circum- 
 stances we must confess to seeing sport only in name. 
 In point of sport and true diversion, there is certainly 
 more in the gloaming of evening when the moonbeams 
 "silver the landscape o'er," rendering the surrounding 
 objects almost as bright as when under the orb of day. 
 Then may the fly-fisher consciently ply his art upon fair 
 vantage ground and with a clear conscience. 
 
 The flies to be used are the largest and heaviest of the 
 day flies, such as the large browns, cinnamon, and stone 
 flies. The first-named form admirable copies of the 
 small grass moths, so prevalent late in the summer's 
 evening. The usual night lures, such as the large mollis 
 of the customary shades, the coachman and the cater- 
 pillar, may be used with success in the way alluded to. 
 
FLY FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 179 
 
 "With regard to the best size of moths to use, we do not 
 advise them to be too heavy. It has become the prac- 
 tice recently upon some waters to use lures well-nigh as 
 weighty as the American half -ounce.* The size should 
 average that of a live May- fly. An artificial dressed by us 
 to imitate the fluttering action of the moth when upon 
 the water, is much used in the Midlands, since its recent 
 introduction — we refer to the "Dun Cut." This dress- 
 ing has proved itself to more than equal the usual repro- 
 ductions of the moths. It is a double-hackled artificial, 
 the feathers being dun and brown hen's breast feathers 
 (usually used for wings), the outside feather being dun; 
 body, drab fur ribbed with silver twist; hook, long 
 shanked Limerick or Kendal — May-fly size. 
 
 Before the subject of trout and grayling fishing (which 
 has been dealt with more in detail elsewhere) is concluded, 
 we feel it incumbent upon us to make some allusion to 
 the Dove, upon whose banks resided the first writer upon 
 this, the highest branch of the art piscatorial, in our land. 
 This is classic ground to every follower of Walton. Here 
 have assembled all noted fishermen since the days in 
 which the common sire of us all trod its banks and 
 wielded the rod; and they still come, though many a 
 famous rod that was wOnt to whip these waters is laid 
 away for ever. Every rock and pool seems to embue one 
 with 
 
 "Meek Walton's heavenly memory." 
 
 The ancient and original fishing-house, too, standing 
 as it does, scarcely impiajiejl by the ravages of time, 'Xr~ 
 seems to impress the mind with familiar associations. 
 It requires no great stretch of imagination to call up the 
 venerable and benevolent features and stalwart form of 
 the " Modern Patriarch Izaak," and his adopted son, 
 
 * The author doubtless alludes to the large black bass flies sold in 
 America, which are certainly heavy enough to kill a bass, if they should 
 happen to strike it in or out of the water. 
 
180 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 discoursing pleasantly whilst making flies, or rigging up 
 the tackle for the evening's rise. 
 
 " Cheerful, sage, and mild, 
 
 Walton's discourse was like the honey balm, 
 Distilled along these waters wild. 
 
 Smit with the love of angling he beguiled, 
 With his adopted son the hours away, 
 
 Whilst Cotton owned the fondness of a child 
 For him, in whose glad company to sta} - , 
 Had made the whole year pass like one sweet month of May." 
 
 Yes, the structure and general appurtenances are still 
 the same; time has dealt most kindly with the building; 
 over the portal the immortal inscription, "Piscatoribus 
 Sacrum," remains still unobliterated; every disciple of 
 the rod may with veneration read 
 
 " His title clear to enter here." 
 
 The Dove is noted for its blue transparency, hence the 
 name. Centuries since other waters were polluted in 
 comparison with the crystal stream of the Dove. The 
 renowned Cotton, the Minstrel of the Yale, thus sweetly 
 sings — 
 
 " Such streams Rome's Yellow Tiber cannot show; 
 The Herian Tagus, or Ligurian Po, 
 The Maese, the Danube, and the Rhine, 
 Are puddle-water all compared to thine ; 
 And Loire's pure streams yet too polluted are 
 With thine much purer to compare ; 
 The rapid Garonne and the winding Seine, 
 
 Are both too mean, 
 
 Beloved Dove, with thee 
 
 To vie priority ; 
 
 Tame and Isis, when conjoined submit, 
 
 And lay their trophies at thy silver feet." 
 
 About Beresford, the scenery through which the 
 stream flows resembles much that of Dove-dale; Beres- 
 ford-dale being a sort of miniature representation of it. 
 In the first-named, the volume of water is, of course, 
 greater, it being situate several miles lower-down stream. 
 Trout and grayling are the only fish here found, with 
 
FLY FISHING FOE TROUT AND GRAYLING. 181 
 
 the exception of a few eels. The trout predominate 
 largely from Dove-dale up-stream; here the best efforts 
 of the rodster are to be brought into play in order to 
 achieve even moderate successs. The water contains a 
 fair stock of fish, but for education and attainments, 
 Dove trout, and especially Dove-dale trout, vie success- 
 fully with those of the Wandle, Hitchen, Test, or any 
 other stream wherever situate; and the adept upon the 
 Dove may, with perfect safety, consider himself suffi- 
 ciently accomplished to rank amongst the first fly-fishers 
 of his day. 
 
 "Oh, Dove, thou art so clear, so bright and sweet, 
 Men's choicest lures "with scant approval meet ; 
 Did not the beauteous Dale such charms reveal, 
 The pilgrim rodster oft regret would feel. 
 Romantic vale, renowned for varied scene, 
 Sylvan abode, meet for a fairy queen ; 
 Rare gems of nature deck the scenes around, 
 With wooded heights the lofty rocks are crowned ; 
 Cascades impetuous fall with arrow flight; 
 Rainbows presented glisten in the light ; 
 The waters, purling at the angler's feet, 
 In crystal streams and sparkling eddies meet. 
 Soft strains of music borne upon the breeze, 
 Resound from warbling choirs, amidst the trees. 
 Fair scenes, adieu. Alas ! charmed stream, farewell, 
 Where speckled trout and grayling dwell." 
 
 W. S. 
 
182 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 LIVE FLY AND BEETLE FISHING. 
 
 Dibbing or dapmg with the natural fly is an easy art, 
 and is, moreover, a very productive and, we may add, a 
 very seductive one, when reasonably practised upon a 
 densely wooded stream. It is often useful as a means of 
 weeding out old fish, whose cannibal propensities go far 
 to exterminate their own species, as well as their imme- 
 diate neighbors and relatives. There is small scope for 
 skill in the use of the live fly, as employed under the 
 above circumstances, as the foliage lining the banks 
 shields the rodster's person from view, whilst the strug- 
 gling lure accomplishes the rest. The rod and line must 
 necessarily be both short and stout for the general comfort 
 of fishing. An ordinary fly rod with short top answers 
 admirably for the purpose, whilst the three or four feet 
 of gut bottom line should be strong, round, and clear, 
 without a faulty place or blemish. Deplorable loss often 
 ensues from carelessness in looking over the tackle before 
 commencing operations. It needs ever to be remembered 
 that the weakest place in a line, be it of what substance 
 it may, decides its precise degree of strength throughout, 
 as when the testing tim? arrives, the thing breaks at that 
 point, despite its strength elsewhere. A flat or unduly 
 thin place in gut should always be taken out before loss 
 and damage are experienced from its presence. 
 
 The systems of using the natural fly for the allurement 
 of fish, in use at the present day. are three in number, 
 winch may be described as follows — 1st. Throwing or 
 casting in open water: 2d. Midwater fishing, or daping 
 with the sunken fly: 3d. Surface fishing and dibbing. 
 The first enumerated is fully dealt with in the Monthly 
 
LIVE FLY AND BEETLE FISHING. 183 
 
 Notes. The method of procedure to be adopted in the 
 case of the sunken fly varies but little from that of worm 
 fishing without a float. The fly is attached to the hook 
 between the wings, the bend of the hook to project to- 
 wards the tail, and two small shots are fixed a foot or so 
 above the hook. Thus equipped the angler carefully in- 
 troduces the lure to the notice of the fish which lurk 
 under roots or projecting banks, etc., always endeavoring 
 to keep an eye upon the bait, as the moment to strike is 
 when the fish has closed upon it, and leisurely turns 
 away. By the moment's grace thus given, the rodster is 
 enabled to hook his quarry in the corner of the mouth, 
 which is always a desideratum in the case of large fish, 
 trout especially, their mouth being excessively hard, 
 gristly, or bony. The movements of a large trout are 
 always leisurely, and as the bait is genuine no fear need 
 be entertained as to the possibility of his rejecting it, 
 during the moment's respite given. 
 
 Surface Dibbing, as the name implies, consists in 
 working in a natural way the live flies upon the top of 
 the water. In order to do this effectually, the impaled 
 fly is made to float and flutter by the action given to the 
 line, occasionally settling upon the water for a brief in- 
 terval. Just before twilight, on a summer's evening, 
 this system of angling is very deadly, and more especially 
 so on small brooks. Here the fish are then wide-awake, 
 and upon the forage for moths, minnows, and other 
 legitimate food which approaches within grabbing dis- 
 tance; and any other larger insects prevalent that maybe 
 placed before their notice are extremely likely to be ab- 
 sorbed. The large white grass moths are capital lures 
 for this purpose. The flies most in repute for daping 
 and dibbmg purposes, are the May fly, stone and cinna- 
 mon flies, the blue bottle, the alder and oak flies, as also 
 the common house fly. The first of these is usually car- 
 ried in a small basket, specially made for the purpose, 
 
184 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 which is strung upon the creel strap. The remainder, 
 being flat-winged flies, may be kept in a glass bottle, the 
 cork having a small, gradually widening nick made in 
 one side, to allow the passage of one fly only when par- 
 tially, drawn, as also to admit air. A fly will always 
 frequent the opening, no matter how quickly he may 
 be extracted. The size of the hook usually employed is 
 a No. 7 Kendal, with shortened shank. Sometimes two 
 flies are placed upon the hook at once, with the smaller 
 of them next the point. This is often found to answer, 
 as the hooks are more obscured and the bait more sig- 
 nificant and tempting to a large fish. Always fish over 
 the eddy of a rise, and whenever the bank of wood of 
 any description admits, keep well back from the river 
 side; even the still pools may be found productive. In 
 this case the nearest bank must be fished first, afterwards 
 the middle and opposite side, and then the open water. 
 The instant the fish rises at your fly you must strike as 
 in artificial fly fishing, and play as is usual in that branch, 
 of the art. For this open dibbing, a full length of fly 
 cast is necessary, and that too of fine substance. The 
 artistic method of fly fishing with the blow-line, as re- 
 ferred to in the Notes on the Months, is much practised 
 in Scotland and Ireland, upon the lochs containing trout, 
 more especially when the May fly is up. 
 
 Beetles of every kind form admirable baits for trout, 
 as also for chub, and other fish. These are to be had 
 "artificial," and when a maggot or wasp-grub is fixed 
 upon the hook, they are found quite as killing as the 
 "naturals." Cockchafers, cockroaches, and dockers are 
 all deemed acceptable to the hungering fish, during the 
 season of low waters and scant food. 
 
 "When cither daping or dibbing, care should be taken 
 to keep a taut and straight line, as intervening slack line 
 renders it a moral impossibility to handle the bait and 
 strike effectually, more especially when angling through 
 
NOTES ON" THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 185 
 
 a small opening in the bushes bordering a brook. In 
 small places, the small lady-cow (the fisherman's Maiiow 
 Buzz or Coch-y-bondu) is used as a liye lure in fine water. 
 These hardy little insects do not leave the hook so readily 
 as the more slender and frail flies. A capital plan of 
 using them is to fit up a fine four-yard gut collar, or 
 lash, with four of the insects, three as droppers and one 
 at the point, the former being attached to fine gut hooks 
 (No. 8 or 9 Kendal), when they may be cast as "arti- 
 ficials" when trout are shy; and when there is a scarcity 
 of ephemeral and other water order of flies this method 
 often proves extremely killing. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING.* 
 FEBRUARY, f 
 
 The angler, as a rule, commences to angle for trout 
 and grayling upon St. David's Day, the first of March, 
 when, according to the calendar, " fly-fishing begins ;" 
 
 * This chapter is the longest and onS of the most interesting in the 
 book; the reader will note, however, that for fishing on our native 
 streams, but few, if any anglers subdivide their stock of flies into the 
 so-called killing lures for each month of the season. Dark small flies 
 for bright days, pellucid or shallow waters— bright big flies for dark 
 days, deep or discolored waters— appear to answer the needs of the 
 angler, and the erratic fancies of his quarry. A dozen or so of standard 
 flies of approved qualities amply " fills the bill." The question of color, 
 form, size, and number, will always be an open one, and withal a delight- 
 ful theme of discussion anions: the enthusiasts of the art; albeit, it 
 should be remembered that "uncle " Thad. Norris, the father of Ameri- 
 can angling, pinned his faith to a few chosen feathers ; using, of the 
 winged flies, only the Brown Hen and the Coachman, and of the hackles, 
 only a brown, a black, and a ginger. 
 
 t It will be noted that the season for trout commences in British wa- 
 ters two months earlier than with us. 
 
186 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 but we would recommend the tyro to try his hand about 
 the middle of February, when lie will be sure to effect 
 captures that will give him a relish to follow the pursuit, 
 and exhilarate him to become an adept in the "flying" 
 art. We note that the majority of youthful beginners 
 take their trial trip in July or August, flogging assid- 
 uously when the sun shines powerfully, and leaving dis- 
 pirited with their ill-success, just as the fish begin to 
 feed at sunset. The angler should be at the water-side 
 from eleven to three o'clock — it is little use starting 
 earlier, as the fish do not rise freely except in the middle 
 of the day. Slow-running streams and still deeps are 
 the most likely places on which to cast. We recommend 
 the red fly, the blue dun, or February flapper, and the 
 ordinary rough bumble to make up the cast, as being the 
 most likely trio for early spring-fishing. The last named 
 is only a fancy fly, but is an excellent killer in spring and 
 autumn. To the experienced fly-fisher, it is a well known 
 fact that few flies rise to the surface of their liquid element 
 while the river is impregnated with snow "broth." This 
 cold stimulant is no inducement for the little insect to 
 quit its sheath in the bed of the river, but when the 
 genial influence exercised by the rays of the sun pierces 
 into its retreat, then the small fly quits its abode, rises to 
 the surface, spreads its wings, and commences life's 
 voyage, which probably ere long is cut short by the ap- 
 pearance of the 
 
 " Pearl tipped snout 
 Of the speckled trout." 
 
 The Eed fly first makes its appearance in this month. 
 Its wings and body are of an olive color, but after two or 
 three sunny days its legs and body assume a russet-brown, 
 anil as the weather becomes warmer its color changes 
 until it attains a deep ruddy hue. The prevailing shade 
 in March and April of both legs and body resembles that 
 of a coffee bean, though slightly claret-colored towards 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 187 
 
 the tail. The Eed fly, we believe, is common to all 
 waters containing trout or grayling. The Welsh anglers 
 consider it one of the best flies that can be used, indeed, 
 it is sometimes called the " Welsh fly." In some districts 
 in this country its local appellation is " Old Jce," in 
 others the "Early Spring Red," and the "Spring Brown," 
 and another local name is the "March Brown." The 
 Bed fly's wings lie nearly flat on its back, the wings of 
 the March Brown are almost upright, after the manner 
 of the duns and other ephemerals. Many a neatly folded 
 packet finds its way into our hands, containing naturals 
 for identification, and as the March Brown proper, like 
 the May fly, does not frequent all waters, this fly, acting 
 in a manner as a substitute, causes endless misconceptions; 
 and vast numbers of the Red fly come to hand which are 
 invariably mistaken for the March Brown. The Blue 
 Dun, or February Flapper, so-called because of its flutter- 
 ing on the water more than any other dun, is of a 
 smoky-blue hue all over, and when once seen can never 
 be mistaken. 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 The angler should be at the water-side from eleven to 
 four o'clock. The fish not yet having recovered their 
 full vigor after the winter season, are to be found on the 
 slow running streams and still deeps. The Red fly, Blue 
 and Cockwinged Duns, Cowdung fly, and March Brown, 
 are the most abundant flies on the water, and therefore 
 are the best to be used. A description of the Red fly has 
 been given under February. For particulars of the Blue 
 and Cockwinged Duns, see page 130. The Cowdung fly 
 is a common insect, the appearance of which is well known 
 to all. It is in boisterous weather plentiful on the water. 
 This is a land fly, and is found in profusion on rich 
 meadow land where cows have been pastured. These in- 
 sects rise from the earth with the first days of spring. 
 
188 THE SCIEXTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 On cold windy days, or in a sharp wind succeeding a few 
 hours of bright open weather, when the inclement season 
 has terminated, these flies are carried by the wind upon 
 the water, the surface of which being thus quickly be- 
 sprinkled with struggling atoms of life, the attention of 
 the hunger-bitten trout is speedily arrested, and under 
 these circumstances they seldom fail to shake off their 
 lethargy to feed freely upon them. It is the best fly that 
 can be used early and late in the day through the whole 
 of this month, and occasionally in April. 
 
 The March Brown is a general favorite with both fish 
 and fishermen throughout Britain. In Wales it is termed 
 the Cob fly. In the northern counties of England it is 
 known as the brown or dun drake ; but, though in differ- 
 ent localities the name varies, the insect itself is charac- 
 teristically the same everywhere. The wings are nearly 
 erect, after the manner of all the duns, the color being a 
 beautiful freckled brown, and the legs the same shade. 
 The body varies, but is generally a decided rusty hue, 
 with yellow ribs protruding, and it resembles the green 
 drake or May fly more closely than any other species. It 
 is two-thirds the size, and goes through similar changes. 
 As the weather gets a little warmer these flies appear a 
 shade smaller in size, and lighter iu color. This is called 
 the Turkey Brown, though exactly the same ephemeral. 
 It is often erroneously supposed to be the female March 
 Brown. This large brown, with its metamorphosis, the 
 Great Red Spinner, lasts until May, and even June, and 
 appears again in August, but smaller still in size. In the 
 Scotch Highlands it is used as a general fly throughout 
 the summer, and is a capital killer. Many a weighty 
 pannier have we had the pleasure of creeling through its 
 agency, for when once really well on the water, which it 
 annually is on most streams, better sport is not afforded 
 by any fly. The Great Red Spinner referred to is an 
 elegant fly, and is sometimes a good killer, but as in this 
 
NOTES OH THE MONTHS FOE FLY-FISHING. 189 
 
 stage it lays the eggs that propagate its species, like all 
 the other spinners, it is scarcely more than a film or 
 shell, after having fulfilled its natural functions, and it 
 is no matter of surprise that the lusty fresh browns are 
 more appreciated by the fish. 
 
 It is the last Sunday in March. Nature is again assum- 
 ing her green garb, and the birds are joyously carolling 
 their overflowing meed of earthly bliss at the return of 
 ever welcome spring. Tempted by the promise thus held 
 out of an enjoyable commune with nature, you, after the 
 morning's devotions are over, indulge in a quiet stroll by 
 the neighboring trout stream. After a time you observe 
 what mayhap had previously escaped your notice, namely, 
 that there is quite a number of up-winged '* browns" 
 about. You approach for a nearer inspection. A glance 
 at the water proves the fish to be equally curious. Dex- 
 terously capturing a specimen in your hat, you pronounce 
 it a March brown. The fish, too, seem to have made a 
 similar discovery, as all the way down stream you are 
 treated to a constant repetition of the sweetest sound in 
 the whole range of music to the angler, "the plump 
 little swish of a rising fish," and you console yourself 
 with the reflection that, as the March brown is well on 
 to-day there will be murder to-morrow. By ten the next 
 morning you are therefore upon the scene of action. As 
 the slanting rays of Old Sol penetrate the murky clouds 
 the flies commence to rise from the bed of the river, 
 sweeping in battalions up and down stream, or buoyantly 
 breasting the miniature rippling waves. Having hastily 
 put together your rod, and rigged up your cast with a 
 trio of March browns, you approach the stream; first 
 wetting your line by way of prelude, and carefully meas- 
 uring your distance, you cast in the midst of the per- 
 petuated eddies. "There!" you hook, almost at the 
 same instant, two fish, one on the bob and the other on 
 the stretcher, which immediately dash counter to each 
 
190 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 other, smashing up your delicately fine cast. The lesson 
 here experienced teaches that the extra-fine grayling lash 
 of the previous autumn is not equally adapted for heavy 
 trout. But lose no time. Quick! Look out something 
 more substantial. Ah, to be sure! this looks more like 
 it. Pull out the coils by drawing the gut slowly through 
 your fingers. We must now "rig up" again with fairly 
 substantial artificials; which done, we move on a little 
 ahead. Now, very carefully by the foot of yonder old 
 alder. There, splendid! You have him. Gently! Mind 
 the weeds and hold the point of the rod well up. Be 
 careful! He exhibits a strong desire to embrace that old 
 stump. Ah! keep his head well up, and take in line 
 with your left hand. Lookout! There is some spurt in 
 him still; show him due courtesy by paying away line 
 with due reserve nevertheless. Now he wearies, and lies 
 athwart the glistening surface of the water, as pretty a 
 contrast to its silvery ripples as can well be imagined. 
 Here we are at last, with a splended one-and-a-half 
 pounder, which ultimately proves but a type of a dozen 
 or more that grace our basket at sundown. The only 
 rivers of the north that the March brown does not fre- 
 quent are the Tay and Tweed. Upon every mountain 
 burn and moorland stream this fly is a standard killer. 
 The rough bumble is also an excellent lure. 
 
 APEIL. 
 
 This is the best month in the year for fly fishing. The 
 prdverbial showers which characterize the month have 
 the double effect of drowning the flies, and stripping the 
 water of its transparency; indeed, the more inclement 
 the weather, the greater chance of sport. The flies are 
 more sturdy than in the summer months, getting more 
 delicate as the season advances. 
 
 The flies recommended for last month will be found 
 equally serviceable in this, especially if the season is 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 191 
 
 rather backward, the weather retarding the progress of 
 the little insects in proportion to its severity. There are 
 the Yellow Dun of April (two shades), Pale Blue Dun, 
 Eed Spinner, Sand fly, Stone fly, and Fosters interme- 
 diate. The Iron Blue Dun comes on in this month, but 
 is much more numerous in the next, for which see de- 
 scription. The Yellow Duns of April (two shades) and 
 the Pale Blue Dun, being April specimens of the Olive 
 Dun (ephemerals) are of great importance; indeed, I 
 look upon this fly in its various stages as being the most 
 useful to the angler through the whole season. This fly, 
 after living three days, casts its coat, and then appears as 
 the Red Spinner. These flies whirl in clouds a distance 
 above the water, frequently alighting on the surface; 
 every time they do so they deposit an egg, which, as we 
 have observed elsewhere, produces duns of the olive fam- 
 ily, ranging in shade from the blue dun to the pale 
 evening white, according to the temperature of the water 
 and weather, when the larva attains its maturity. The 
 Red Spinner is a delicately transparent fly, the legs are 
 fiery brown, the tail double the length of the dun's, the 
 body a ruddy yellow. In consequence of the tails being 
 long, it is necessary to put them on the artificials, though 
 not requisite in the case of the duns. As the fish gener- 
 ally rise at the tail-end of the fly we have found it detri- 
 mental in hooking, especially when rabbit's whiskers are 
 used, as is generally the case. "When we do attach the 
 tails, we use three fibres of a large cock's hackle. To- 
 wards evening is the best time to use these flies, as in the 
 heat of the day they take refuge in the foliage of bushes 
 and small trees on the banks of the stream, but at sun- 
 set appear in great numbers. The duns are principally 
 used at mid-day, the light April Dun, and Pale Blue 
 Dun on light genial days, the Dark April Dun on dull 
 cloudy days. It maybe as well to remark that, if the water 
 be clear, with a bright sun, it will be useless to fish on 
 
192 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEE. 
 
 the still deeps and slow-running streams; but eddies, 
 small holes, and rapid running streams, are the best 
 places to fish. Should, however, a strong breeze dis- 
 turb the surface of the water, the angler may pursue his 
 sport on the smoother reaches. Foster's intermediate 
 will be found very effective when duns are on the water. 
 This is a copy of all the duns prior to their re-appearance 
 as spinners. It is well known that fish invariably seize 
 sickly or maimed insects, or small fry, etc., from the 
 midst of their more lively companions. The Sand fly 
 is the color of reddish sand; it is a flat-winged fly, and 
 is very plentiful in this month and the next, and i3 a 
 good killer when there is no quantity of any particular 
 flies on the water. 
 
 The Stone fly is a flat-winged fly; the wings and body 
 are of a dark stone color, the latter is strongly marked 
 with yellow ribs; the legs are of a greenish brown, and 
 these it uses with extreme activity. When not on the 
 water it frequents stones and pebbles by the sides of 
 streams, on the rapid parts of which the artificial should 
 be used. Many fish arc taken by dibbling with the natu- 
 ral fly near the roots of overhanging bushes. It resem- 
 bles a beetle in its flight, falls very heavy on the water, 
 and is a substantial bait for large fish. On some streams 
 it is known as the May-fly, as the green drake does not 
 appear on those waters. It is a water-fly, and lasts from 
 the beginning of April to the middle of June. 
 
 The Grannum, or Green-tail, makes its appearance in 
 this month. This is a flat-winged fly, of the size and 
 shape of the Sand fly, with the addition of a green ap- 
 pendage at the end of the body, which is its egg-pouch. 
 This fly is quite a favorite with fishermen in April, but 
 we confess we have seldom done much with it until the 
 latter part of summer. 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS EOR ELI -FISHING. 1S3 
 ilAY. 
 
 At this season of the year the fish leave the deep water; 
 and sport on small streams is now good. The best flies 
 for this month are the Hare's Ear, Yellow Dun of May, 
 Iron Blue, and its transformation the Jenny Spinner, the 
 Alder fly, and the Yellow Sally. The Green Drake, or 
 May fly, seldom appears on any stream before the last 
 week in May or the beginning of June, under which 
 month we give a descriptive account of the various meth- 
 ods of using it. The little Iron Blue will now be found 
 very abundant upon most waters, especially in the Mid- 
 land and Southern counties. Its local appellations are 
 numerous, but being precisely the color of a piece of new 
 iron, the very appropriate and descriptive term, Iron 
 Blue, is more generally adopted. The fly appears a shade 
 lighter upon the body in this month, a mauve color pre- 
 vailing. This fly assumes no other name upon under- 
 going his change of color in the body, but is universally 
 recognized as being one and the same fly. Were this the 
 case with the larger species of duns, much complication 
 would be avoided. To the entomological student, the 
 habits of this little insect form an interesting and amus- 
 ing study. It is extremely hardy, being a lover of in- 
 clement weather. Its water nympha frecpients the cold 
 spring heads during the whole summer, rising to the sur- 
 face in clouds whenever the weather happens to be dull, 
 with obscure sun. A cloudy morning will entice myriads 
 from the watery depths, the fish being in turn allured 
 from their accustomed haunts in the bed of the river to 
 the surface of the water, where they regale themselves 
 upon these prim little yacht-like insects. Great execu- 
 tion may often be effected through the medium of a good 
 copy of this especial favorite of the fish, even in the 
 hands of an indifferent rodster, though it is not to be in- 
 ferred that any artificial, or even a bad rendering of the 
 9 
 
194 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 Iron Blue will be equally effective as when the light col- 
 ored "blues" are absorbing the attention of the fish. 
 The dark shade will, in clear water, often fail to accom- 
 plish much; in these circumstances, no matter how well 
 the fish may be rising, other "artificials," infallible as 
 they may be in their seasons, will prove utterly useless. 
 
 Whilst fishing the Kennet upon one occasion, not very 
 long ago, a rather striking instance of this came before 
 our notice. Out of a round half-dozen of fishermen upon 
 the length we were about to fish, there were two northern 
 anglers, spider theorists. These gentlemen, being 
 strongly prejudiced against the southern regimen, had 
 very eloquently declaimed, prior to our setting forth, 
 against the absurdity of attempting to copy any special 
 fly, maintaining that when fish are inclined to feed, one 
 fly is as good as another, so long as the size is somewhere 
 near the mark, adding that when fish were not inclined 
 for feeding "every conceivable object in the fly-book 
 would fail to tempt them." 
 
 Finding verbal arguments ineffective, we had adjourned 
 to the river's brim to try the effect of practical ones. 
 The day opened bright and clear, with no flies on the 
 water, and no fish on the rise, in which circumstances our 
 Scotch friends wisely, in their own opinion, declined to 
 fish. The remainder of the party, upon the other hand, 
 rigged up with double-hooked Palmers, and commenced. 
 These are cast on the water the same as the fly, and are 
 then allowed to sink and move with the current. After 
 a few fish had been allured from unseen haunts in this 
 manner, to the amazement of the north countrymen, they 
 protested that alluring ointment must have been used, 
 which imputation was indignantly resented by several of 
 the company, who affirmed that the sense of sight in fish 
 was all they attempted to deceive; that no modern fisher- 
 man believed in the efficiency of obnoxious ointments, 
 and other pigments, and that the only reason that Wal- 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 195 
 
 ton and Cotton shone above their numerous contempo- 
 raries so conspicuously was owing to the fact of their 
 having proved themselves to be half -a- century ahead of 
 their times, by ignoring such like trash. About noon a 
 smart breeze sprang up, the sun being occasionally ob- 
 scured by drifting clouds, and an odd fish or two now 
 began to rise. The prim little Iron Blues quickly ap- 
 peared, as though by magic, on the water's surface, jaunt- 
 ily riding the tiny billows in quaint style. Now all set 
 to with right good will. The party separated for busi- 
 ness, and during the ensuing hour-and-a-half we had 
 taken as many fish as could be conveniently creeled, as 
 had also a neighboring rodster, when one of the Scotch- 
 men hove in sight around a sudden turn. " Now for an 
 exemplification of the relative virtues of spider and flies," 
 observes our neighbor. ' ' Science versus ignorance and 
 presumption," was our response. 
 
 Scotchman — " The fish are really playing and not feed- 
 ing; I have risen dozens, but have not hooked a single 
 fish." 
 
 " Indeed," was the reply, "but then you see you do 
 not use alluring ointments! " 
 
 At this moment our acquaintance of the morning 
 hooked a good fish, which, judging from the unceremoni- 
 ous way in which it was landed over some weeds, must 
 have been hooked very well indeed. 
 
 " They would seem to be feeding a little better here- 
 abouts. " 
 
 "Bather," sagely observes our friend, as he opened his 
 well-filled creel to squeeze in his late capture. 
 
 "By heavens!" ejaculates the disciple of typical delu- 
 sion, "you don't mean to say you have taken that basket 
 of fish this afternoon? " 
 
 " That's precisely wbat I do mean to say, nevertheless; 
 and what is more, I will wager the price of a dinner that 
 
196 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 each of our fly-fishers has accomplished something 
 similar." 
 
 " Oh, you may take my word for it there has not been 
 a fish killed down below; but I tell you what, I am going 
 in for one or two here; " saying which, he assiduously set 
 himself to work. Our offers of the taking fly were de- 
 clined by him, although the tongue of every fish taken 
 was seen to be covered with one particular fly, and that 
 fly the Iron Blue. Obstinacy and prejudice still held 
 rampant sway, obstructing the path to success, and damp- 
 ing the spirits of the inner man as effectually as the pro- 
 verbial Scotch mist does the external one. Some fish 
 were still to be seen rising. 
 
 "I thought I had that fish, he rose within two inches 
 of me at something else; it's very strange they will not 
 take the bait." 
 
 "It would be strange indeed if they did," was the 
 reply. 
 
 After witnessing more futile efforts on the part of the 
 rodster with the infallible artificials, we landed a small 
 fish or two, evidently to his no small discomfort, and then 
 wound up for the day. By the time all had met at the 
 hotel, every creel was found to contain fish, with the ex- 
 ception of those of the free-thinkers, who returned in 
 company, troubled and dispirited. It is needless for us 
 to add that next morning saw them on board an early 
 train bound for other latitudes, where it is hoped they 
 will benefit by the lesson taught by experience. 
 
 The Jenny Spinner is the metamorphosis of the Iron 
 Blue. It is of a universal milk-white color, with the 
 exception of two crimson bands, one at each extremity of 
 the body. In this new dress, the insect, after the manner 
 of all other spinners, is prevalent at sunset, whenever the 
 Iron Blue has been well on in the course of the day, 
 which generally is the case on all cloudy days, between 
 April and October, though the color of this fly changes 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR PLY-PISHING. 197 
 
 somewhat during this period. In August the Iron Blue 
 assumes a more olive cast upon the body; in September 
 and October the precise shade and color in wing, leg, and 
 body is the same as the Olive Dun of the same period, 
 having a rusty shade upon the body precisely similar, the 
 only difference being in point of size. These little duns 
 are sometimes erroneously supposed to be half-matured 
 Olive Duns; but flies do not grow or expand gradually, 
 they are full sized when they quit their sheaths, as in the 
 larva and pupa state they feed voraciously, laying up an 
 internal store which lasts them the remainder of their 
 existence, as we have elsewhere observed. The Jenny 
 Spinner is a good killer, even when the water is extremely 
 fine. The Yellow Dun of May is very prevalent on fine 
 days, when it should be on the cast. The Alder fly is 
 very abundant from about the last week in May to the 
 middle of June. It is a flat-winged fly, and comes from 
 a water nympha. The wings are of a dull brown, veined, 
 the body being a dark claret, and the legs of a rusty black 
 shade. It is a great favorite with trout and chub, par- 
 ticularly towards evening. The natural insect may be 
 used for dibbing, it being a large fly, though slightly 
 varied in different localities. The Black Gnat is a very 
 small fly, which is a great favorite with trout and gray- 
 ling, when fully on the water. The fisherman's Black 
 Gnat is a small winged fly, and is not to be confounded 
 with the angler's plagues or pests, so prevalent at the 
 latter part of the season; indeed, the naturalists aver that 
 it is not a gnat in reality, that term being correct only in 
 the case of the minute black smuts referred to, which re- 
 semble nothing better than a fine speck of soot. The 
 copies, however, of the Black Gnat, generally speaking, 
 are much too large, being nearer the size of a Blue Bottle. 
 The same observation also applies to the Iron Blue, the 
 Jenny Spinner, and other small flies. Just when the 
 May fly begins to appear the gnats generally come on in 
 
198 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 clouds, they being the forerunners of this celebra- 
 ted fly. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 As this month opens, the nymphse of the Drake, as a 
 general rule, arrive at a sufficient state of maturity to 
 essay a change of element. They become active prior to. 
 the impending change, and by their movements in the 
 bed of the water attract the attention of the trout, which 
 feed upon them for some week or ten days before the 
 great and continued rising. Just as the aquatic insect 
 begins to change into aerial being, the attention of the fish 
 is not attracted by them. Fish appreciate the quantity 
 as well as the quality of their edibles; therefore, as long 
 as the majority of the insects remain undeveloped in the 
 water, their attention is monopolized by them. When, 
 however, the surface is plenteously laden with feathery 
 atoms of life, they speedily become as bold as the angler 
 could desire. 
 
 Before fully entering on the subject of Drake fishing, 
 it would be as well, perhaps, to enumerate the small flies 
 that are killers, more especially early and late in the day, 
 before the May flies or Drakes appear. These we give as 
 under: Little Chap, Black Gnat, Oak fly, Alder fly, and 
 the Spinners. These naturals often in part accompany 
 the Drake upon the water, before and after its appear- 
 ance. The fish feed upon them when prevalent; before 
 ten a. M. and after six p. m. being the most likely times 
 for their proving useful; though it is by no means uncom- 
 mon to find the fish taking the small flies at mid-day, 
 when the Drake has been on for awhile. We have often 
 watched a heavy trout eagerly skim the surface of the 
 water in chase of a small gnat, which fish has ultimately 
 proved, on being brought to land by this minute insect, 
 to be fairly gorged with the May fly. The only explana- 
 tion we can suggest is, that Master Speckle was anxious 
 for a change of diet. 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOE FLY-FISHING. 199 
 
 The Green Drake appears upon the lower portions of 
 the streams first, often being four days or a week later in 
 rising near the source, where the water, being colder from 
 the springs, retards its maturity. The season of these 
 flies varies in different localities. There are three lakes 
 at varying altitudes at Mullingar, in Ireland. The May 
 r fly first makes its appearance upon the lower lake and is 
 plentiful, and the fishing here is good so long as these 
 flies remain on the water. They usually last ten or twelve 
 days, and when all is over on the bottom lake they com- 
 mence upon the next in elevation, where they also last 
 about the same period. Then the angler must travel a 
 little higher, to number three lake, and here the May fly 
 will just be found coming out, and the fishing is quite as 
 good as on the lower waters. The fish run large in these 
 lakes, not infrequently a four or six-pound trout is taken 
 in the day, and sometimes much larger fish are killed. 
 Throughout Ireland the May fly comes out in abundance 
 on many lakes. In Scotland, on the other hand, there is 
 very little Drake fishing. Upon a few odd lochs, the 
 Awe, Lomond, and others, a few of these flies make their 
 appearance, but sport is not good. Upon the other hand 
 the May flies are extremely abundant upon almost every 
 stream that produces trout, no matter in what latitude or 
 clime; and with regard to the exception referred to, the 
 Stone fly forms an admirable substitute, being equally 
 abundant at the precise time the Drakes should appear. 
 The fishy feast of St. May fly is annually looked forward 
 to by the major portion of fishermen as the " good time 
 coming." Many an old timid fish that at other times 
 only ventures abroad by night, or at twilight, now boldly 
 makes its appearance at mid-day; and a long, thin, un- 
 derfed fish, with disproportionate head, will in a few days 
 become vigorously healthful and plump, and of nearly 
 double the strength it possessed previous to feeding on 
 the Green Drake. 
 
200 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 We have bad the pleasure of wetting our line upon all 
 trouc streams of note in the three kingdoms, but nowhere 
 have we had such sport with this fly as on the Dove. 
 Centuries ago this river was considered the best stream 
 for trout fishing in England, and it still bears the palm 
 for Drake fishing. In this renowned dale, which not 
 only takes its name, but whose sylvan scenery derives an 
 indescribable charm from the river, the flies are far more 
 numerous than on any other stream. This may be due 
 to various causes, the sheltering of rocks and foliage, or 
 the geological formation of the bed of the river. This, 
 however, we pass over; suffice it that the Green Drake, 
 when scarce and almost a failure elsewhere, is to be found 
 in clouds in Dovedale. Here fishermen of all grades 
 throng the banks of bonny Dove with almost every con- 
 ceivable equipment; long men with short rods, small men 
 with large ones, from the youthful novice to the venerable 
 old fly fisher of seventy years. 
 
 And now, with our reader's kind permission, we will 
 conduct him to a favorite leugth some distance up- 
 stream, keeping a look out meanwhile in our progress as 
 to what is doing. The first object that strikes our 
 notice as we walk leisurely along, is an old man, who 
 sits rod in hand under the friendly shade of some rather 
 overgrown bushes, quietly and contentedly blowing his 
 weed, his eye intently fixed on some object on the water 
 near. 
 
 " Why, he's certainly float fishing," you observe. 
 
 "Not so," we reply; "it is the hale old miller from 
 above, who has been tempted by the morning's bright 
 promise of this being a good day with the Drake, with 
 one of which he is dibbing or daping upon the water's 
 surface, near the roots of the hawthorns." 
 
 "But surely he cannot hope to do much in that wav?" 
 you ask. 
 
 " The very largest fish are taken in this manner. You 
 
Plate 5 
 
 (201) 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR ELY-FISHING. 203 
 
 observe he is perfectly still and easy; lie has evidently 
 seen the rise of a feeding fish below there, and he is con- 
 tent to patiently watch. Ah! there, he has missed that 
 fish; the fly is gone and so is the fish; he has taken his 
 ''hook' and left the miller's." 
 
 "Any fault of the rodster's ?" 
 
 " Oh no, none whatever. The fish has simply taken 
 hold of the living fly by the tail, and so stripped it from 
 the hook, which was placed between the wings; he is 
 rather fastidious in feeding. The flies are merely out as 
 stragglers yet; if two naturals be put upon the hook, he 
 will, ten chances to one, get him the next time. The 
 strongest tackle is used in this primitive style of angling; 
 the shadow of the thick foliage, and the actions of the 
 impaled insect, aiding materially in effecting the decep- 
 tion." Every minute now the sun shines brighter, and 
 more flies appear. We now move onwards, passing 
 several more fishermen of the daping school. And now, 
 directly preceding us, a fisherman is observed with a con- 
 spicuously long stiff rod, attached to which is a very 
 inconsistently fine line, which is out a great length. The 
 rodster is as motionless as though the least action would 
 upset his equilibrium, and seriously imperil the safety 
 of his person and property, the twenfcy-foot rod in ques- 
 tion. 
 
 "Gracious goodness! Whatever kind of fishing do 
 you call this, pray?" 
 
 "This is in general use upon the lochs frequented by 
 the May-fly, and is sometimes very successful here. The 
 line consists of the finest possible substance, of the very 
 strongest textile procurable, viz. , that of pure raw China 
 silk, which, though not perceptibly thicker than the gut 
 lash, is infinitely stronger. At the extremity of this is a 
 live fly, which, if you watch very closely, you will see is 
 made by the almost invisible action of the tip, to gently 
 frisk and flutter in the most natural manner possible, 
 
204 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEK. 
 
 upon the top of the water, exactly like a lusty insect in 
 the full enjoyment of perfect liberty. Tin's is a much 
 more scientific way of dibbing than the one recently 
 noticed. The gut is generally used three yards long, and 
 is as fine as it is possible to draw it. The hook is small 
 and is cropped short shank; this is usually inserted be- 
 tween the wings, as in the other style of daping. Occa- 
 sionally two hooks are placed back to back, in which 
 case two flies are used, this more particulary on cold 
 windy days." 
 
 "How about the wind? I should imagine the whole 
 thing impracticable without wind." 
 
 "A slight breeze is certainly essential to the successful 
 working of the method; but, when too strong, a small- 
 sized split shot, attached near the foot line, acts admir- 
 ably as ballast." 
 
 "See yonder! we have still another type of a Drake 
 fisherman. His method is more difficult to practice, but 
 it it is more scientific, and is generally more successful. 
 Mark how carefully he measures the distance requisite to 
 reach the rising fish, that now forms the focus upon 
 which his entire attention is fixed. He is evidently a 
 more than ordinarily skillful fly-rodster. Observe how 
 carefully he keeps away from the river's edge, casting 
 dexterously within an inch or two of the rising fish." 
 
 "Is he not rather circumspect in his use of the rod?" 
 
 " He is casting the live fly, and that careful swing 
 round from the left to the right is absolutely requisite to 
 retain the fly upon the hook. Were not due care and 
 caution paid to this the fly would continually be flipped 
 off, and nothing but bare hooks presented to the fish. It 
 must not be forgotten that 
 
 ' Though gudgeons strike 
 At the bare hook and bait alike, 
 The wily trout regardless lie, 
 Till art. like nature sends the fly.' 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 205 
 
 The rodster before us is an adept at this particular 
 branch of the art of fly-fishing. His rod is very pliable, 
 as is necessary; and provided his gut and tackle are of 
 the finest description, he will do some execution before 
 night-fall." 
 
 Whilst we have been taking observations the fish have 
 turned out from their hidden haunts and sheltered 
 nooks, attracted by the ever-increasing show of May-flies, 
 which flutter upon the surface of the water. Without 
 waiting to see the luck of our ideal rodster, we hasten 
 onwards until our favorite swim is reached. Here the 
 tackle is speedily arranged, fine double hooks mounted 
 back to back upon the finest stained gut, being attached 
 to the extremity of our treble X fine lashes. A live Drake 
 is now placed upon the larger or uppermost of the two 
 hooks, the hook being inserted in one side of the haunch 
 forming the shoulder, which will admit of its maintain- 
 ing a natural position when thrown into the water. And 
 now we commence. 
 
 But stay! your rod being not made specially for the 
 purpose, will be found too stiff and difficult to use success- 
 fully. We must first remedy this little, though serious 
 matter. This small piece of fine lead wire will work the 
 oracle if rolled round the tip of the top. "There, how 
 does that feel ? Eather limpy ? Take an inch or so of 
 wire off then. Now it is all right, everything that could 
 be wished, in fact. Now let's at it! Bring round the 
 rod over the left shoulder, taking especial care not to 
 whisk, or whip off the fly. Now that was done very 
 nicely indeed, and if it only had reached that fish over 
 there, it would doubtless have been appreciated, as it in 
 all justice deserved. Again, 'up he comes.' Strike! 
 Eight! You have him this time; ' handle him gently, 
 treat him with care' — slightly parodying Tom Hood. 
 Take him a little below there to the shallow, and land 
 him, or he will damage our sport hereabouts. That was 
 
206 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 very prettily done; sharp for another fly; here, you have 
 it upon your coat; the very air is getting thick with flies. 
 Ah ! the sun is now obscured by passing vapors ; stay 
 your hand ; now for the artificial. Art hefore nature, 
 when there is a lively chance of its being successful. 
 Here we have our floating favorite, the Canadian wood- 
 duck-winged Drake, with hollow wheaten straw body, 
 let's have him on. Now for business. Away surges the 
 line, the further extremity of which no sooner touches 
 the water than it is seized, and you have an antagonist 
 who, in the tug which immediately ensues, proves worthy 
 of your steel. The first terrific wrench he gives the rod 
 and. tackle as he dashes majestically away, shows him to 
 be the tyrant of the length hereabouts. Did you not 
 courteously yield to his wild and indignant rush with 
 faint reserve, the fight would be brought to an abrupt 
 conclusion, for had your tackle thrice the strength it has 
 in reality, grim force would be utterly futile. Play ujjon 
 him by placing a heavy strain upon the rod, allow him to 
 steal his lengths heavily, and more heavily, in his frantic 
 efforts to escape, ever keeping a look-out for mischief, 
 such as sunken timber, roots, and sticks, to avoid which 
 the heaviest strain the line is capable of standing must 
 he put upon him, or he Avill prove victor, and will vanish 
 with his spoils, consisting of several yards of choice gut, 
 and perhaps your last artificial, which, though they may 
 desperately encumber him, are not to be recovered. 
 Exercise, therefore, your judgment and ingenuity, and 
 his natural cunning will be put to rout. Time is no- 
 especial object in a fight of this description : every wan- 
 ing minute is a minute gained ; the heavier the fish the 
 longer the time to be expended over him. According to 
 the poundage of a trout, as a rule, the sport he gives ex- 
 tends over an equal number of minutes, though, in a 
 case like this, "each seems an hour." These disjointed 
 sentences escape us as the scene is prolonged. Now, how- 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS EOR ELY-FISHING. 207 
 
 ever, our captive's spirit is broken, his golden broadside 
 lies athwart the silvery stream ; and as he is "limp as a 
 loo-," you slowly tug him ashore. "Don't present arms 
 with that net, but keep it out of sight until his tail end 
 can be got at first. Capital ! There ! Safe at last, a 
 three-and-a-half pounder if an ounce ; small danger of 
 your eclipsing this if you fish for a week. But now is 
 the prime time of the whole season, the fish are all 
 out and feeding, therefore it is the time for the angler to 
 weed out heavy fish, whose cannibal propensities are 
 exemplified the more weekly, monthly, and yearly, until 
 the water near their haunt is entirely depopulated. Let 
 us see how's the enemy? — 2.15 p. m. You will extract 
 a heavy pannier before dinner, if you labor against time; 
 though the fun may furiously thicken, don't retain more 
 than your fill." 
 
 Personally speaking we make a practice of drawing the 
 line at the lid of the creel, all conquests afterwards being 
 relinquished as soon as effected. This rule, humane 
 reader, we would commend to your acceptance, in all 
 exceptionally favorable circumstances, whenever practi- 
 cable. 
 
 Should the weather prove fine, and favored with warm 
 sun, the flies will appear a few days earlier in each locali- 
 ty, but will terminate a week or so before their wonted 
 time. The genial weather and warm temperature of the 
 water admit of their attaining maturity almost simul- 
 taneously ; and in these circumstances, it naturally fol- 
 lows that their stay will be more limited. Chub are bold 
 risers at the May fly, and after the close time, that is 
 about the last week of the Drake, much diversion may 
 be derived from Mr. Leatherhead. Grayling and all 
 coarse fish come in season on the 16th of June. The 
 small flies, when numerous, tempt them from the slow- 
 running deeps to the rapids or shallows, where they con- 
 gregate in shoals, being a gregarious fish. The Little 
 
208 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEE. 
 
 Chap and Black Gnat — both very small flies — are usually 
 picked off by them in preference to the Duns, Spinners, 
 Oak fly, or what not, that may be plentiful. We have 
 frequently counted eight or ten fine fellows rising within 
 the compass of a few yards, while at the same time there 
 has not been another fish rising up or down stream. 
 Under these circumstances, it will be obvious to all that 
 great care is necessary in "playing" the fish, for should 
 the rodster land his fish in a reckless or clumsy manner, 
 his chances of hooking a second will be exceedingly small. 
 The best way to land a grayling, under the above cir- 
 cumstances, is to keep a gentle pull on the rod, and let 
 the fish bolt down to the bottom of the water for some 
 distance below where he rose, where he may be safely 
 bagged. Grayling may be taken in the latter part of 
 June with the Honey-Dun and Mulberry Bumble, Little 
 Chap, and small Midges. The rod, like the line and gut, 
 should be fine ; an ordinary one-handed fly rod, in good 
 play, is decidedly the best, as with it you will often feel 
 the fish in time to hook him ; whereas, with a less pliable 
 tool you will feel nothing, save perchance a stake or a 
 root. An hour or so at daybreak will, at this season of 
 the year, seldom fail to yield capital remuneration in the 
 way of sport, as, during the warmer weather, numbers of 
 insects fall upon the water in the dark hours, and are 
 taken by the fish as soon as they are discernible each 
 morning. 
 
 For a week or ten days after the Green Drake has dis- 
 appeared the trout lie dormant in the deeps; until again 
 hunger-bitten they disdain small food, but after the lapse 
 of this time, they leave the stills and return to the shal- 
 lows and rapids. 
 
 The Oak fly is really invaluable to the fly-fisher in 
 June, after the Drake season. This fly has the form 
 somewhat of a Blue-bottle, and the color of the Sand fly, 
 the body being more slender than that of the former, 
 
HOTES OK THE MOKTHS FOR FLY-PISHIKG. 209 
 
 and ribbed with, black. This is a good fly to dib with, in 
 a style similar to the May fly. Towards evening, after 
 sundown, the Bed and Golden Spinners are generally on 
 the water in great force, at intervals here and there, 
 mostly near weirs, bridges, or overhanging trees and 
 bushes, where they may be seen whirling in clouds. The 
 trout are in better condition at the latter part of this 
 month than at any other part of the year, a small half- 
 pound fish proving as strong and vigorous as a fish dou- 
 ble the weight a month or two earlier or later. The 
 extraordinary fattening qualities of the heavy ephemera 
 are mainly instrumental in effecting the change. 
 
 JULY. 
 
 The fish are now to be found in the small eddies and 
 small streams behind large stones, sunken rocks, or any 
 other impediment, in and by the sides of rapid streams. 
 The Golden, July, and Pale Evening Duns, and the Pale 
 Evening White (shades of the Ephemera Olive) will pre- 
 dominate. The Spinners, especially the Golden, are 
 very numerous, as are also the Midges and the Grass 
 Moths. 
 
 This month is perhaps the most difficult to fish suc- 
 cessfully during the whole season. We often meet with 
 young inexperienced anglers during a long sultry July 
 day, who flog industriously from "early morn till dewy 
 eve," meeting with but faint encouragement. Fine 
 weather would seem to act as a magnet to draw the unin- 
 itiated to the water side. For the special guidance of 
 such, we append a few brief instructions as to the plan 
 of procedure. To commence at daybreak, a cast of flies 
 similar to the dead ones seen upon the water beneath the 
 overhanging boughs of bushes, trees, etc., should be used 
 over the moving fish before breakfast; when it is no un- 
 common thing to find the fish rise until the dead flies 
 are picked off. During mid-day it is of small use whip- 
 
210 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 ping the "waters, unless the day be windy, wet or cloudy; 
 in these circumstances a cast of "artificials," corres- 
 ponding with the "naturals" then vrpon the water, will 
 he found to take. In the event of the weather heinsf 
 hot and oppressive, use the Ked Palmer Caterpillar, of 
 which more anon. At sunset small flies may again be 
 resorted to. The evening rise after a seasonable day at 
 this period is a sight worth seeing upon any well stocked 
 water. During and after twilight the Caterpillar, Dun 
 Cut, Moths, Coachman, and any of the large trout flies 
 contained in the fly-book, will be found most deadly. In 
 concluding, we may state that, provided with suitable 
 tackle, the fault lies with the rodster if no sport is ob- 
 tained. 
 
 In the middle of the day, during the whole of this 
 month, small blacks are frequently numerous; both trout 
 and grayling feed upon them when on in sufficient 
 strength. These tribes of blacks are almost invisible in 
 most lights, and especially so when on the water. When- 
 ever the fish are rising at these minute specks of life, it 
 is almost vain to present anything else to their notice. 
 The tantalizing effect of this insect upon the temper of 
 the fisherman has caused it to be stigmatized as the "an- 
 gler's plague;" the pests themselves being little larger 
 than a grain of mustard seed, closely resembling the 
 appearance of a minute ball of soot, the wings so filmy 
 as to be almost indistinguishable to the naked eye. This 
 is the black gnat of the naturalist; the gnat of the fish- 
 erman is a much larger insect. The term gnat is usually 
 associated with the troublesome insect whose habitual 
 tendency would appear to be to plague and annoy the 
 human race. The ily-dresser's gnat is usually of quite a 
 different species, being of wondrously increased dimen- 
 sions, more often resembling the common house-fly rat her 
 than the gnat. The fisherman's Black Gnat proper, is a 
 fly a little less than the Iron Blue, and should never be 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 211 
 
 dressed larger. The artificial " plague" is ingeniously 
 contrived by a fine point strand of black ostrich herl; 
 but the hooks used being too small to be effective for any- 
 thing except grayling or small trout, we can scarcely 
 commend their use. It may be an artistic feat to land a 
 fish through the instrumentality of an artificial of this 
 description, when attached to gut collars as fine as human 
 hair, but the predominating chance of breakages, and the 
 uncertainties over which the fly-fisher exercises little or 
 no control, of unsafely hooking, etc., cause us to ignore 
 these, adopting in preference a safe-sized hook and fly, 
 viz,, the Little Chap. This is somewhat less than the 
 angler's Black Gnat, and is dressed buzzy, and with this the 
 fish's chances of hooking and holding are largely increased, 
 There are some fly-fishers who care less about landing 
 fish than hooking and turning them; to such as these, as 
 a matter of course, a more correct copy is preferred. 
 
 About the middle of this month the "Wren Tail ap- 
 pears, and on hot days often in large numbers. Being a 
 land insect it is of much consequence to the angler in 
 calm weather. There are always, through the season, a 
 variety of "oddlings" about, which, as a rule, affect 
 neither fish nor fisherman, especially when seasonable 
 flies prevail. Favorable weather for the fly at this part 
 of the year implies brisk breezes, dull cloudy skies, or 
 sharp showers. The evening rise after a hot, dry, sultry 
 day, is nevertheless a famous time for sport, the fish 
 usually rising vigorously until after twilight. The flies 
 that have risen and hidden in the foliage fringing the 
 river's bank during the day, turn out as soon as the 
 power of the sun begins to wane. From the natural 
 position of the fish in clear water, they have every ad- 
 vantage of position, and faculty for distinguishing differ- 
 ences the most trivial between one fly and another; and 
 often is the angler nonplussed in his endeavors to arrive 
 at the precise thing absorbing their attention. 
 
212 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 A valuable aid at these times, we have always found 
 in the use of a small glass-bottomed drinking-horn, as 
 in the froth and foam that is found in quiet corners, at 
 points where the water eddies round, drowned specimens 
 of what are monopolizing the attention of the fish are 
 sure to be discovered. "Whenever the trout are not to be 
 drawn to the surface, owing to the scarcity of surface 
 food, there is for the fly-fisher a rarely failing method of 
 procuring sport by means of the Ked Palmer Caterpillar. 
 The way we use it is to cast it precisely the same as the 
 fly, at the extremity of a nine-feet gut lash, in which 
 fineness and strength are combined. This done, and all 
 being in readiness, the mounted cast is delivered with 
 more than ordinary care, a couple of yards or so above 
 any fish that maybe on the look out for what the stream 
 brings forth. In comparatively still and clear water, this 
 style of angling exceeds most from a genuine sportsman's 
 point of view, as each movement of the fish is plainly 
 visible to the rodster. The lure should be slightly 
 worked by a wrist movement, just sufficient to open and 
 shut the feather fibres.* When the artificial has passed 
 the fish the operation must be repeated; and fish, especi- 
 ally large ones, are more often than not killed after a 
 certain amount of attention to this matter. We have 
 often creeled a trout, grayling, salmon, or chub, after 
 casting twelve, fifteen, and even twenty times, the bait 
 being subjected to an all round inspection each time of 
 its appearance. It is thought by some, that by this 
 repetition of casts and workings the fish finally becomes 
 eager, under the impression that from the constant suc- 
 cession of baits they are becoming numerous. Be this as 
 it may, that the fish do take this bait not only in these, 
 but in a variety of other circumstances, is now an 
 established fact, placed beyond all dispute. We have 
 
 * The author refers to up-stream fishing. 
 
NOTES OX THE MONTHS FOIl FLY-FISHING. 213 
 
 personally used this lure for more than forty years, and 
 can fully testify to its killing powers when properly pre- 
 sented. By its use the fly-fisher is enabled to pursue his 
 sport at any time of the day (or night) when the fish are 
 not rising, and all ordinary means fail. This bait was 
 originated by a famous Dove angler some half-century or 
 so ago. This worthy, however, assiduously kept the 
 thing private, and it was finally divulged in a purely 
 accidental manner. Mr. Professor having, during a fly- 
 fishing match, through a laxity of vigilance, left a type 
 of the unknown mystic lure upon a twig on the opposite 
 bank, his riyal, upon whom the action had not been 
 lost, being in the vicinity, took the opportunity of solv- 
 ing a problem that had perplexed him and other fisher- 
 men for several seasons, as to the nature of an artificial 
 capable of killing almost unfailingly, and that, too, when 
 all ordinary artificials were all but useless. The dis- 
 coverer referred to, was the writer, from whom the 
 author of the "Fly-fisher's Entomology," and the gen- 
 eral public, obtained the secret of the mid-water fly. As 
 Mr. Eonalds points out, the artificial in question is a 
 copy of the Arctia Caga, or Tiger Moth (commonly 
 known as the Woolly Bear). In Scotch and Irish waters 
 it is equally killing when dressed somewhat larger, as it 
 is in the well-whipped streams of England. To both the 
 salmon and trout fisher it forms a sort of auxiliary in 
 reserve, convenient in otherwise trying circumstances. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 During this month the most favorable days for fly- 
 fishing are when the weather is cloudy, and the water's 
 surface is slightly ruffled by a breeze of wind. As the 
 weather usually prevailing is similar to that of the month 
 preceding, the instructions there given apply equally to 
 the present month. "Upon clear sunny days the fish will 
 be found under the shade of the bushes, on the sides of 
 
214 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 the banks. The Caterpillar, both as a mid-day and 
 night fly, may be used with success, seasonable weather 
 prevailing. The best evening flies are the Greentail or 
 Grannum, Golden Dun, the Spinners, and the Interme- 
 diate. The last is a representation of the fluttering atti- 
 tude of a dun during the transformation scene, when it 
 slips from its old covering, or skin, and re-appears more 
 delicately graceful and fragile than before. The fish are 
 especially partial to the up-winged naturals when in this 
 temporary transitory stage, for which there may be many 
 reasons, the most important being that the metamor- 
 phosis always, or nearly so, takes place upon the top of 
 the water, and therefore within reach of the feeding fish, 
 which, it is well known, show a marked partiality for 
 deformed or distressed prey, inasmuch as they will seize 
 the sickly little fish, or a copy of one, from amongst a 
 shoal of perfect fish, almost any one of which was in 
 their power. 
 
 The Eed and Black Ants, Gray Gnat, and "Wren-Tail, 
 are to be seen upon the water on bright days, the small 
 flies being then abundant. These are essentially mid- 
 day flies, the larger species being numerous towards even- 
 ing. When the fish are feeding upon small "naturals,"' 
 the contents of the stomach of the fish taken should be 
 examined, so as to ascertain correctly the takiug fly. 
 Sometimes this is discerned by an inspection of the 
 tongue only, especially when the fish are feeding well. 
 
 About the 10th of this month, the August shade of 
 the Large Browns (August Dun) comes upon the water; 
 north of the Midlands it is much later. This fly, 
 in common with the duns, seeks the shelter of the 
 neighboring foliage immediately upon rising from the 
 bed of the river, venturing forth about sunset. This, 
 and the light Turkey Brown shade, are to be used ^vith 
 signal success until the fisherman can no longer see to 
 manage his line. The March Brown, dressed a size or so 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOE FLY-PISHING. 215 
 
 larger than those usually used this side of the border, is 
 the best trouting fly throughout Scotland, being a standard 
 killer upon all its waters, excepting the Tay and Tweed, 
 for which rivers the ordinary southern flies are adapted. 
 In 1864, Lord Erskine took the heaviest take of trout of 
 the season upon the Tweed, with the small black Gnat. 
 
 A heavy shower often has a very beneficial effect upon 
 the rodster's sport. We have frequently seen young an- 
 glers, at the preliminary drops of an impending shower, 
 rush for the nearest shelter, whilst the descending rain 
 drops, beating down myriads of insects upon the water, 
 allured the fish from their customary haunts to the sur- 
 face, where in these circumstances they are to be readily 
 taken by the persevering angler. As soon as the favorable 
 and friendly rain has ceased to fall, Mr. Novice assidu- 
 ously recommences to flog the stream, inwardly congrat- 
 ulating himself, doubtless, at having been so fortunate 
 in evading an unpleasant experience. 
 
 Amongst the flies numerous in the evenings of sultry 
 days, the spinners figure conspicuously, from the Great 
 Bed of the heavy browns, to the prim little creatures of 
 the Iron Blue order. The fish are usually all life from 
 sunset until dark, and after this, too, when the moon rises; 
 thus, if the angler is not busy too, in all probability the 
 fault lies with himself. This month is the best in the 
 whole season for minnow-fishing in brooks and rapid 
 running waters. For information upon this subject 
 we refer our readers to Trout Spinning. The largest 
 trout are generally found feeding at some distance from 
 very deep water, encumbered by tree roots or large 
 stones; sometimes the bank is hollowed under an old 
 tree root for yards, by the constant washing of the water. 
 When disturbed, the trout will make for these retreats at 
 a rapid pace, and should the unfortunate angler allow the 
 fish once to get to his hold when hooked, he will to a cer- 
 tainty lose his capture, and imperil his tackle. Much is 
 
216 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 to be learned, therefore, when the water is fine and low, 
 as then observations may be taken as to the lay of the 
 river's bed, etc. 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Grayling are now rapidly coming into condition. Sea- 
 sonable weather prevailing, good sport is afforded by 
 these fish wherever prevalent. Trout and grayling take 
 the fly in an entirely different way; the former, as a rule, 
 comes up boldly to meet the fly as it floats down-stream, 
 whilst the grayling seldom rises at a fly until it has 
 passed over or close by him. This is owing to the singu- 
 lar formation of the mouth of this fish, the upper part of 
 which, projecting over the bottom lip, incapacitates it 
 from closing upon the fly when- before it, as is habitual 
 with the trout. The grayling being gregarious, it is of 
 the utmost importance that each fish should be landed 
 quietly and carefully, with the least possible disturbance 
 of the water. In order to accomplish this satisfactorily, 
 the hooked fish should be headed down-stream, whenever 
 practicable, to the nearest available spot for landing. 
 The angler who has been accustomed to whip for trout 
 upon the waters of a small lake or pool will know per- 
 fectly well how to accomplish this. To be a successful 
 grayling fisher, it is essential to have thorough command 
 of the rod, to have a sensitive touch, a quick eye, and a 
 gentle hand. The secret of success in fact, as in other 
 branches of the art, lies in the acquirement of certain 
 details, which together constitute proficiency. First, 
 the art of throwing should be thoroughly understood and 
 acquired. This rule is imperative, as the least awkward 
 movement will "knock the fish off the feed." It should 
 ever be remembered that the eye of the grayling is even 
 quicker and keener than that of the trout, though his 
 cupidity is greater. 
 
 Next in importance ranks "striking.'' This requires 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOB FLY-FISHING. 217 
 
 a quick hand and eye; and if either one or the other be 
 in any way defective, the angler should not strike at all, 
 but should let the fish hook himself. Striking forms 
 one of the most fertile sources of loss and disaster that 
 exists in the modern method of fly-fishing. This is par- 
 ticularly exemplified in the case of grayling, they being, as 
 an old writer quaintly expresses it, "excessively tender 
 about the chaps," and a very slight motion of the wrist 
 is ample to drive home the small hook. It is here that 
 quickness of sight and tenderness of touch are called into 
 play, in the absence of which requisites the delicate 
 tackle, or the hold of the hook, and sometimes even a 
 portion of the jaw of the hooked fish, will be broken 
 away by an impetuous rodster. Great care is therefore 
 essential in this matter. 
 
 Whenever the grayling are not rising, unlike the trout, 
 they congregate in considerable numbers at the bottom of 
 deep holes; but when there is a good number of flies 
 upon the water, they quickly leave the deeps, and will be 
 found in the slow running streams, more especially where 
 the water averages a depth of three to four feet. Here 
 they rise freely, so long as the supply of flies is unfailing; 
 but upon these quitting the surface of the water, the fish 
 gradually retire again to the still deeps. The best flies 
 to use for grayling are the Grey-palmer, Willow and 
 Needle fly, the Little Pale Blue, and seasonable shades 
 of the Olive Dun order, which are all more or less 
 numerous at this time, if seasonable weather prevails. 
 The first-named is taken freely when the common wood 
 and house flies are stricken with cold, and are carried 
 upon the water by every gust of wind. Every naturalist 
 knows that these flies go blind in this and the following 
 month, but they do not all know that they furnish food 
 for fish. Father Izaak used to make this fly from gray 
 badger's hair: he terms it the Hearth fly; but there is 
 every reason for believing it to be the common house fly. 
 10 
 
218 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 The experienced would naturally suppose that a copy of 
 the insect at rest, in correct attitude, would be the thing 
 to fish with; but owing to the incessant struggles of the 
 "natural" when on the water, this would practically 
 prove a great mistake. Most land flies flutter conspicu- 
 ously when upon the water, causing a ripple which is not 
 infrequently taken for the rise of a fish. The Willow 
 and Needle flies are also great favorites with these fish, 
 and when sufficiently prevalent are the centre of attrac- 
 tion for the time being. The Little Pale Blue (Septem- 
 ber shade of the Iron Blue), like all little ephemerals, is 
 fully appreciated throughout the autumn. These flies 
 appear upon bright days, and are general flies upon every 
 trout and grayling stream. The temperature of the 
 weather and water being now similar to that of May, the 
 Duns common to that month are again prevalent, 
 and are useful for the capture of trout and grayling. 
 The whole of the foregoing flies are seasonable "natu- 
 rals." 
 
 There may be days, however, upon which none 
 of these may be out, when the fly-fisher has to fall back 
 upon what are designated "fancy" flies, the chief and 
 foremost of which are the palmer-dressings, known as the 
 Tassel fly or Bumble. These are constructed in many 
 shades, ranging from the blue-white ordinary dressing to 
 the dark furnace or black red one. The Honey Dun, 
 the Eed, and the Common Bumble, are the best for 
 autumn fishing. Tag-tailed artificials are also used to 
 tempt the fastidious fish, being hackled flies with a tuft 
 of wool or feather at the tail, after the fashion of a 
 salmon fly; but fly-fishing for grayling cannot be said to 
 be usually lucrative when the fish are not on the rise. 
 The food of the grayling consists of aerial and aquatic 
 insects and their larvae, small worms, grubs, etc. 
 Amongst the contents of their stomachs are also small 
 shells and pebbles; these latter, we doubt not, arc taken 
 
NOTES OK THE MONTHS FOR FLY-PISHING. 219 
 
 up, as in the case of gallinaceous birds, to sei^e some 
 digestive function. 
 
 In most rivers containing these fish they are not found 
 in the higher portions ; they seem to prefer the deeper 
 waters, at the bottom of which they lie in the hot months, 
 to avoid the effects of the high temperature of the atmos- 
 phere. Whenever the water is a little discolored the fish 
 will be on the move for food ; a little inclement weather 
 often does wonders in preparing the water and its inhab- 
 itants for the pursuit of sport ; and the most favorable 
 time for the tyro in fly-fishing for grayling is to repair to 
 the river's bank when the water and weather are thus 
 favorable. Grayling will frequently take a sunken fly 
 upon the stills, ofttimes even when some considerable 
 distance below the surface ; but this method need never 
 be resorted to when they care for surface feeding. Upon 
 windy days the Cinnamon fly is often found useful 
 amongst the trout, which are as partial to the larger na- 
 turals as the grayling to the smaller ones. In genial 
 weather it is of little use employing it ; as, although there 
 may be thousands upon the grassy bank near the river, a 
 smart breeze is needful to carry them upon the water 
 within the reach of the fish. Clear, frosty nights tend 
 to improve autumn fishing. They invigorate the gray- 
 ling, causing them to fight gamely when hooked, which 
 is the case with other fish seasonable in the colder season. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 This month may be said to be the best in the year in 
 which to fish for grayling, which are now in prime con- 
 dition. These fish have acquired a reputation for being 
 less wily, and therefore more easily deluded than trout. 
 This may have originated from the fact of their being at 
 times given, like the salmon, to take some gaudy combi- 
 nation resembling no living insect in creation. The 
 angler who contemplates an excursion to the haunts of 
 
220 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 these fish, fully expecting to do much execution by such 
 unnatural lures, will, in nine hundred and ninety-nine 
 chances in a thousand, be grievously disappointed ; an 
 odd brace, indeed, may be considered the average yield 
 per diem of the nondescript artificials. 
 
 Our earnest endeavors have always been to put the 
 novice in the way for thorough sport ; and having this 
 object in our mind's eye, we would impress upon the 
 mind of such an one that, although in an exceptional way 
 a fish now and again at rare intervals may be turned over 
 by almost anything in the shape of an artificial, usually 
 they are found to be more expert in discerning the points 
 of difference between a natural and its copy than any 
 trout that ever evaded hook. Their visual organs we be- 
 lieve to be superior to those of any other fish ; for, al- 
 though they habitually lie at the bottom of the water, 
 they are not only greater adepts at fiy-catching, but can 
 discern the most trivial deficiency in color of any imita- 
 tion of what may be so monopolizing their attention. 
 Prodigious takes of these fish are often secured, when 
 fully upon the rise at the flies with which the water's 
 surface is laden ; but these are effected by an exercise of 
 considerable proficiency and caution on the part of the 
 rodster. The October shade of the Iron Blue Dun order, 
 the April shade of the Olive Duns, together with the 
 Willow and Needle flies (small), and Gray Palmer, are 
 the flies that will be found in this month. In unseason- 
 able weather there is often a multiplicity of winged in- 
 sects about, each species having but few representatives; 
 in these circumstances the sunk-fly system may be prac- 
 tised with success. This is more particularly resorted to 
 upon still deeps, when the cast of flies, after being 
 thoroughly saturated, is allowed to sink some five inches 
 beneath the water's surface. Here the rodster has to 
 discern by the feel when a fish touches the lure. Gray- 
 ling will often examine the fly in a very leisurely sort of 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 221 
 
 manner before essaying to finally absorb it. A gentle 
 hitch should always be given before taking the line from 
 the water, as by that means fish are often killed that 
 would otherwise be broken from and lost. It is also ne- 
 cessary to cast directly across stream, a few feet above the 
 rising fish, instead of directly up-stream, as in the case 
 of the trout ; as with a slack line the grayling are apt to 
 reject the fly without being hooked, when under water 
 especially. A gradual drawing motion, when not tempt- 
 ing the fish upon the surface, may be described, until the 
 gut collar reaches the rodster's side of the river. The 
 very largest fish take the fly in a remarkably quiet manner, 
 therefore it is essential to give a slight feeling motion of 
 the wrist at the least possible indication of a rise. A 
 marked characteristic of the grayling is, that he will 
 often unconcernedly permit the lure to go by many times 
 before closing upon it. This is exemplified in a very 
 marked degree in grub fishing, when, after the bait has 
 passed say nineteen times out of twenty, the twentieth 
 by no means infrequently proves successful. 
 
 The accredited theory is, that the constant passage of 
 the lure acts as a sort of ground bait in exciting the at- 
 tention of the fish. Be it so or not, the fact remains that 
 grayling are thus to be taken when not exactly upon the 
 feed, and more especially the larger fish. Frosty nights 
 and genial days bring the flies upon the water, and the 
 delicately fastidious grayling upon the rise in a thorough- 
 ly healthful style ; and if the angler fails then to do con- 
 siderable execution, the fault most assuredly lies at home. 
 One of the best day's grayling fishing we ever experienced 
 was on the Dove, a few miles above Uttoxeter. The 
 water's surface was plentifully besprinkled with the Oc- 
 tober shades of the Iron Blue, every grayling upon the 
 length seemed to have left its accustomed haunt in the 
 bed of the water to regale upon them, and as these fish, 
 in the lower portions of the river, predominate largely 
 
222 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 over the trout, the few rods that happened to be out 
 were doing heavy work when once furnished with pre- 
 sentable "artificials." Two fish were now and again 
 taken at the same cast. This scene was prolonged for 
 several hours; a sudden atmospheric change, however, 
 finally caused the almost instantaneous retreat of the flies 
 from the water's surface, the repast of the fish and our 
 sport being as suddenly brought to an abrupt conclusion. 
 The produce of a couple of neighboring rods were to be 
 enumerated by the dozen; not only their basket, but 
 their empty provision receptacles were filled with silvery 
 grayling of all sizes upwards of half-a-pound. For our 
 own part, we had captured at an early part of the day 
 sufficient to fill the vacuum in our pannier, and for the 
 remainder and greater part of the time had returned all 
 subsequent captures. Such days as these are ever to be 
 looked back upon as memorable reminiscences, and at the 
 end of a long life of activity, cannot fail to form food for 
 pleasing reflection. 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 As the season advances, the grayling will be found a 
 few yards above and below the deep holes, where they 
 will rise when the flies are on the water, even in severe 
 weather; indeed it is by no means an uncommon thing 
 to find grayling taking well during a severe frost, when 
 the line resembles an extended icicle, for like Jack, the 
 grayling are in the very zenith of healthful vigor in the 
 cold season of the year. When the world of vegetation 
 is lifeless, and the whole landscape is submerged by an 
 arctic wave, no sport can possibly be more exhilarating, 
 or more conducive to health than grayling fishing in 
 these circumstances. The rodster uses grasshoppers or 
 hoppers of another shade before and after mid-day, filling 
 up the interval with the fly, say from twelve a. m. to two 
 p. m. A pleasing variety is thus afforded, which seldom 
 
NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOE FLY-FISHING. 223 
 
 fails to meet with clue appreciation on the part of the fish. 
 The flies to use, even in mid- winter, should be chosen 
 from those last "on "in the latter part of the fall; as 
 when Old Sol makes a feeble effort to rise in the heavens, 
 a few insects are almost invariably induced to leave their 
 retreat to meet death, either in the jaws of the fish or by 
 the nipping wind of night-fall. A capital fancy fly 
 throughout the grayling season is an artificial we term 
 the Winter Dun. The body of this is formed of flat gold 
 or silver, neatly laid on; legs, light blue hen's hackle ; 
 wings fieldfare. This fly should be fished point. We 
 can commend this before all the fancy fly species for the 
 allurement of grayling in either clear or discolored water. 
 In the early winter season the flies prevalent in February 
 will be out ; the sombre-hued dun of that month, and on 
 fine days the cock-winged dun will be seen about; and as 
 flies appear merely in nominal numbers, the grayling ex- 
 hibit great eagerness in taking what comes within their 
 ken. Should the day prove cloudy, with wind or showers 
 of rain, the Light Bumble will be found deadly, as will 
 also the Gray Palmer. Upon the occasions the Cinnamon 
 Ely is often to be observed on and about the water, and 
 when this is so a copy may be placed as dropper with ad- 
 vantage, as, though grayling as a rule prefer small flies, 
 the big fish will often rise to larger lures. In clear water 
 the fish will sometimes be observed to double back, after 
 cautiously rising to the surface, without closing on the 
 fly presented. This is often owing to the tackle being 
 too strong and coarse. We would impress upon the tyro 
 in the art of "flying" for grayling, the absolute necessi- 
 ty of the very finest bottom tackle, ere he can pursue his 
 sport with any degree of satisfaction. As in trout fishing, 
 whenever the water is slightly discolored, and when the 
 fish are on the move, the chances of sport with the gray- 
 ling are enhanced. In these cicumstances the novice, 
 providing he can put out a moderate line, will achieve 
 
224 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 wonders; but upon the other hand, when the day is 
 calm and clear, with no friendly breeze to detract from 
 the transparency of the stills of the limpid deeps, the 
 proficient's best exertions and most accomplished skill are 
 called as much into request in November as with trout 
 in July. 
 
 By way of conclusion we would observe that whenever 
 mist is observed to rise from the surface of the water, 
 either at night-fall in the warmer months, or at any part 
 of the day in late autumn, all prospects of sport are to 
 be considered annulled.* However much a descending 
 or descended cloud may enhance sport, certain it is that 
 an ascending one infallibly indicates to the observant 
 mind that further attempts at allurement would be futile, 
 the fish being off the feed for the time being. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 
 
 THE SALMON ; SEA AND BULL TROUT ; SEWIN ; SALMON FISHING 
 AS A SPORT ; THE ROD, LINE, AND REEL ; HOW TO USE 
 THEM ; JIGGERLNG AND SULKY FISH ; SALMON FLIES ; SPIN- 
 NING, ETC. 
 
 Before entering into the practical part of this ponderous 
 subject, we think a few remarks as to the varieties of 
 salmon, sea or white trout, and other anadromous fish, 
 may not only be necessary, but may also serve to supply 
 a deficiency hitherto conspicuous in angling works. 
 
 In the ichthyological classification of migratory salmoni- 
 
 * We have noted tbis fact time and again when fly fishing for black 
 bass on the rivers of the Middle States. 
 
SALMOX AND SEA TEOUT FISHING. 225 
 
 dffi much difference exists, the ordinary method followed 
 by naturalists in determining species proving inadequate. 
 So innumerable are the variations, that the sub-generic 
 group (Salmones) are for the most part named after the 
 water they inhabit, as G-alway sea trout, Tay salmon, 
 Shannon salmon, etc., etc. The differences between these 
 consist both in size, form, and color; and are due to the 
 following among other causes:— First, the varying prop- 
 erties of the water in different localities; second, the 
 complications implied by interbreeding— an extremely 
 fertile source of difficulty, producing, as it does, endless 
 changes in detail amongst the Salmonoids; and thirdly, 
 the varieties dependent upon age and sexual develop- 
 ment. 
 
 Salmon proper attain much greater weight and dimen- 
 sions than the sewin, sea, or white types, and when in 
 condition are also distinguished by outward form and 
 color, in both of which we deem them unequalled by any 
 other order, family, or species of fish. The sea and bull 
 trout — the former shorter and broader than salmon 
 proper* — are distinctively marked by a quantity of black 
 spots, which, when the fish is cooked, become more vivid. 
 There is also a marked absence of that beautiful fiery 
 bronze natural to the well-conditioned salmon; and last- 
 ly, we may state that, if not distinguishable from the 
 genuine species in its outward aspect, its inferior edible 
 qualities should render it easily discernible. In the north 
 the sea trout is equally abundant with the salmon, and 
 large quantities find their way to the southern towns, 
 where they are retailed by the fish dealers, whose bois- 
 
 * Sea and bull trout, so called in the text, do not vary sufficiently in 
 structure to be assigned to different species. The term " bull trout" is 
 often indiscriminately given by English authors to the sea salmon, sea 
 trout, and the Welsh trout or " sewin." A sluiht difference it: coloration 
 and form gives rise to a confusion of local names in England as well as 
 with us. 
 
226 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEE. 
 
 terous cry of "Salmon without any gammon!" is heard 
 whenever a fresh instalment arrives. In many eases 
 these people have been unwittingly "gammoned" them- 
 selves, their customers, nevertheless, being the ultimate 
 dupes. From the fisherman's point of view, the sea trout 
 is equal to the finest grilse that ever ascended the Tay or 
 Tweed, exceeding, as he does, for gameness and pertinac- 
 ity every other British fish. The bull trout ascend their 
 native rivers in April and May, their first appearance at 
 any distance from salt water being immediately after an 
 early spring flood. These are for the most part young 
 fish, ranging from three to five, and occasionally six 
 pounds. The oldest and best fish ascend in great num- 
 bers in Xovember and December, ranging from six to 
 twenty pounds in weight. In some localities the term 
 bull trout is erroneously applied to the sea or white 
 trout ; nor is the error confined to the illiterate, some 
 authors of eminence having endorsed this inaccuracy. 
 Mr. Frank Buckland was convinced of the fallacy of this 
 when he penned the following: — "It is supposed by 
 some that the sea trout and bull trout are identical. I 
 know the bull trout very well; indeed, I could pick him 
 out amongst a thousand other salmonida?. I am certain, 
 therefore, that there is a difference between the ordinary 
 sea trout and bull trout." * From our own observations 
 we are led to think that the bull species are hybrids be- 
 tween the salmon and sea trout (S. trutta). The ex- 
 ternal difference between the salmon and bull trout is 
 much less than between salmon and sea trout, both in 
 point of color and size, thirteen to fifteen pounds being 
 the average weight. The seaf or salmon trout, upon 
 
 * Professor Gunther of the British Museum, one of the most prominent 
 ichthyologists in Europe, states that these fish arc of the same species. 
 
 + The sea trout of Canada (to which habitat those of America are 
 confined) will average about two pounds. In certain localities, they, 
 however, maintain an average weight of five or six pounds. This is 
 especially the case in the river Nouvelle in Gaspe, Canada. 
 
Plate 6. 
 
 SWAN BENT HOOK.' 
 F1C:6 RANGE OF KENDAL SNECK, HOOKS 
 
 (327) 
 
SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 229 
 
 the other hand, seldom attain more than six or seven 
 pounds weight. They abound in nearly every beck and 
 burn, loch and river of Scotland and Ireland, and are 
 readily taken with the fly. We have already adverted to 
 their gameness: the bold dash, wild leap, and game fight 
 are more or less exemplified wherever they may be found. 
 The rivers most noted for these fish are the Spey, Don, 
 Tay, and Tweed. The peal, or salmon peal, as it is 
 termed, is the grilse stage of these fish, as it is also of the 
 Sewin (S. Cambrians), which species, though chiefly 
 found in Wales, is also abundant in several southern 
 rivers of England. This fish is closely allied to the sea, 
 white, or salmon trout. It has the delicate coloring of 
 the salmon parr, the prevailing hue being a pale slate 
 blue, which graduates from the dull black upon the back 
 to the pure chaste white of the breast, the broad expanse 
 of the side being profusely spotted with black, and oc- 
 casionally red; the latter about the lateral line. Sewin, 
 in common with the whole species, are subject to great 
 variety of tint, the action of fresh water causing them, 
 after a protracted stay, to assume somewhat the color of 
 the ordinary brown trout.* Commercially the sewin is 
 not nearly so important a fish as the salmon trout. Its 
 flesh is generally preferred as an article of diet, but it is 
 not so plentiful as its northern relative. The whole mi- 
 gratory body of the salmonidge family flourish infinitely 
 better in the more northern than in temperate regions. 
 The salmon of Norway, and even so far north as Iceland, 
 attain much greater dimensions than the natives of more 
 southern latitudes. The sewin is far less vigorous than 
 other members of the same family, and when its instincts 
 prompt it to ascend the rivers to attain the requisite 
 
 * This peculiarity has been observed in the American sea trout. The 
 alternation of color from a bright silver, their sea livery, to the darker 
 shades and even to the vermilion spots of the trout of the brooks, has 
 been attested by observant anglers. 
 
230 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 medium temperature of water and atmosphere to insure 
 the vitality of its eggs, is more easily obstructed in its 
 passage. 
 
 Bull Trout have the most hardy temperament, being 
 more vigorous than the salmon, and owing to this, gen- 
 erally succeed in reaching and occupying the best and 
 most favorable spawning beds, before the salmon put in 
 an appearance. 
 
 With the Salmon we have dealt under the heading of 
 "Habits and Haunts of Fish." From a piscatory point 
 of view, it is a truly noble fish, and affords splendid 
 sport, as every angler will corroborate who lias the pleas- 
 ure of landing a good lively fish, after a hard and heavy 
 fight. Upon salmon fishing as a sport much might be 
 written: the salmon fisher is a sportsman of an almost 
 distinct species from ordinary anglers. The superiority 
 of this game fascinates its followers, and prompts them 
 to ignore, not only all other and inferior branches of the 
 gentle craft, but by no means infrequently other field 
 sports and national diversions for the pursuit of the sal- 
 mon when in season. The true sportsman, however, 
 pursues his peculiar vocation arduously, zealously, and 
 spiritedly, and whether it be Nimrod, ramrod, or fishrod, 
 for the time being his whole soul is thrown into the 
 pursuit. Salmon fishers now wander far-a-field for past- 
 ures new; some enthusiastic sportsmen make the pursuit 
 of the salmon their one object in life, roaming over the 
 vast area of the European and American continents, and 
 of late years the boundaries of these have been over- 
 stepped, since the virgin waters of the antipodes have 
 proved so fertile. The popularity of salmon fishing has 
 increased something like a hundred per cent, during the 
 last half-century. Since the opening up of the Scotch 
 Highlands by the royal steam route, branch extensions 
 have rendered districts, once remote, comparatively easy 
 of access, and a part of the brief vacation of the most 
 
SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 231 
 
 eminent statesmen and professional men and others, 
 forming the brain power and intellect of the nation, is 
 spent annually in the northern wilds, the royal emporium 
 for the sportsman. Here in the 
 
 "Land of brown heath and shaggy wood," 
 Land of the mountain and the flood, 
 
 the roving disciple of the rod wanders up to the head of 
 the river, into the heart of the mountains, sometimes 
 cheered by the pleasant converse of a few true men and 
 honest anglers like himself, often alone with nature in 
 her fairest or wildest loveliness. Solitary or social, his 
 appreciation of all the sweet charms of wild nature is 
 ever keen and lively. Ubiquitous even as the "Murray"- 
 bearing British Tourist is now the rod-carrying British 
 angler. For his enthusiasm Scotland's most extortionate 
 hotels have no terrors, nor do Norway's ruggedest soli- 
 tudes and coarsest fare deter him from seeking the lordly 
 salmon by many a "fjord" and "foss." 
 
 Before passing on to the practical part of the art, it 
 will be necessary to enumerate the chief articles requisite 
 to a tolerable equipment. 
 
 The Rod first claims our attention. The remarks anent 
 the choice of a rod for fly-fishing — as also winch and line 
 for small stream fishing — apply equally to salmon-fishing. 
 The lake and large river implement is of necessity of 
 greater dimensions. The Castle Connell style of rod is 
 tolerably good for some waters; but the small "grip" or 
 hand-hold afforded by the slender stock has a very cramp- 
 ing effect when the rod is wielded industriously for a 
 lengthened period. The six-feet joints, with the delicate 
 spliced extremities, are very liable to damage whilst 
 travelling. Greenheart is undoubtedly the best wood 
 for heavy work. There are, however, good and bad varie- 
 ties of every description of wood without exception. 
 Thus we have indifferent Greenheart, Wahaba, Maho, 
 and Locust, just as often, and perhaps more so than not, 
 
232 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 made up into both salmon and trout rods; but the 
 most deplorable error, the one to be most assiduously 
 avoided, is cross-grained joints. There are individuals 
 careless and unprincipled enough to make up short or 
 cross-grained wood in most rods made by them. This 
 defect is most noticeable in colored japanned articles. 
 The steel-centred salmon rod is a weapon several feet 
 shorter than the usual old-style lengths; a rod of four- 
 teen being quite equal to an all-wood tool of sixteen-and- 
 a-half feet. 
 
 The Line and Eeel need but little comment. The 
 former should be from one hundred to one hundred and 
 twenty yards in length for all round lake and river work. 
 Salmon lines, as well as trout, are plaited taper, both 
 double and single. Personally, we prefer a straight line, 
 no matter of what material it may consist. The fine 
 ends are worn and frayed by the constant friction, be- 
 coming soft, limp, and waterlogged, whilst the thicker 
 parts of the line, not coming in for a fair share of the 
 work, remain sound and good. The weakest part of a 
 line, always in constant casting or spinning, gets the 
 twist and turn, and is thus more readily frayed away. 
 The hair and silk, cotton cord, and plaited hemp lines 
 are inferior both in point of strength and durability to 
 silk, plaited, and prepared to resist the action of the 
 water and friction. The new Acme line, as we have 
 already pointed out, is an advance on the waterproof silk 
 lines. The annoyance of a bad or defective line can only 
 be equalled by a defective reel. The salmon reel should 
 be bronzed, and when made with check, tins action 
 should be of steel. Brass cogs are a delusion, being 
 simply useless for heavy wear. It is no uncommon thing 
 for an ordinary reel of this description to get completely 
 deranged, through the non-durability of the centre parts. 
 This is particulary noticeable in Indian Mahseer fishing, 
 in which the wear of the winch is heavier still. The ad- 
 
SALMON" AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 233 
 
 vantage of the centre stock reel is yet more exemplified 
 in the larger tools. The convenient catching place for 
 the loose line, always afforded by the side-fitting winches, 
 is removed; indeed, we have equal confidence in the 
 centre butt winch doing away with a fertile source of 
 annoyance and loss, as we previously had in respect to 
 the revolving plate, when we perfected that improvment, 
 as compared with the old windlass handle, which is now 
 being discarded in favor of our improvement. A small 
 hole should be pierced in the revolving plates of large 
 reels to admit of oil being inserted when needed. 
 
 How to use Rod, Reel and Line. — This is a difficult 
 matter to deal with on paper. Observation and practical 
 instruction are so superior as means for conveying knowl- 
 edge, as compared with mere verbal instruction, that we 
 recommend the novice to make a combination of the 
 two, by placing himself under the guidance of an ex- 
 perienced salmon fisher, if his circle of acquaintance 
 embraces one. 
 
 Long-casting ranks amongst the foremost of the attri- 
 butes to success and proficiency; and when some twenty- 
 five yards can be put out tolerably straight the rodster may 
 congratulate himself upon his having overcome the lead- 
 ing difficulty in the beginner's path. When a cast can 
 be made fairly well, the knack of striking, etc., follows 
 as a natural consequence. This is readily acquired from 
 that best of tutors — experience. We have invariably 
 found that if the loss of fish and tackle does not instil 
 knowledge and suggest improvement, other expedients 
 will be equally futile. The rules already laid down for 
 casting in the case of trout and grayling -hold good for 
 salmon fishing, though with this difference, that the 
 implements and tackle being of heavier calibre, a greater 
 distance is to be attained by the action and impetus given 
 to the rod and line. Precision is also of equal conse- 
 quence, as the rodster has to cast when the fish are in a 
 
234 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLEfi. 
 
 sportive humor, within the "ring" of a rise, just the 
 same as when in quest of smaller quarry. This requires 
 a considerable amount of application to accomplish at a 
 good distance; but just as the exj^erienced cricketer 
 handles the bat with tact and skill, so must the salmon 
 fisher wield the rod; proficiency in both is the reward of 
 constant practice, and of that only. 
 
 Some anglers acquire a certain right, and in some 
 instances a left-hand cast, and acting up to an orthodox 
 system, swing without deviation upon all occasions. The 
 thing to do is, as we have elsewhere stated, to adapt one's 
 self to the situation at all times, and learn to handle 
 the tools so as to cast in any direction requisite to reach 
 the fish. It is an endless source of pleasure to the adept 
 to test his powers of casting under more than ordinarily 
 difficult circumstances. He well knows that assiduous 
 application to this matter is repaid by exceptional sport, 
 and that too, when but little is doing in the well thrashed 
 open. 
 
 When a fish is hooked, the variety of expedients re- 
 sorted to is frequently considerable, one of the most 
 common is that of " jiggering."* In this a side to side 
 motion is described by the line in the water. This is 
 caused by the fish endeavoring to rake or rub out the 
 hook in the bed of the water, or upon a flag or sub- 
 merged stone. It is believed by some to be caused by the 
 mere shaking of the fish's head in mid-water, but this is 
 pure nonsense. We have watched the action of jigger- 
 ing fish in clear water often, at almost every angle, and 
 have generally found that a continued "jigger" bodes ill 
 for the consummation of the capture. During a late 
 visit to the Hebrides we experienced a rather striking 
 instance of this. Upon the occasion in question we had 
 
 *Our black bass, when hooked io running shallow waters "jigger;" 
 at least I have had them to go through a modified form of the action 
 described in the text. 
 
SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 235 
 
 hooked a good salmon, but at the expiration of two- 
 thirds of an hour had not succeeded in landing it, owing 
 to our peculiar position. We had hooked our fish whilst 
 bank fishing upon a perpendicular rock, some six or 
 eight feet above the surface of the water. During the 
 greater part of this time the salmon had been active, so 
 much so, that more than once our fine gear was in immi- 
 nent danger of being severed. After these plunges and 
 wild determined rushes to and fro had subsided, our 
 quarry finally settled, in deep water, near the rock upon 
 which we stood. There an unpleasant jiggering motion 
 was described by the line. 
 
 In this instance, the water being comparatively clear, 
 the movements of the fish were plainly discernible. Some 
 ten feet or so from its surface he was energetically rub- 
 bing his snout upon a jutting part of the rock, from 
 right to left, and left to right, without a moment's ces- 
 sation. We ran paper down the line in the usual way, 
 to no purpose, the exasperating "rub-rub" still con- 
 tinuing. Donald, the keeper, had meanwhile set off to 
 explore for pebbles, but even this chance was denied, he 
 returning as he went, empty-handed. As a last desperate 
 effort, our pocket key-ring was fixed on the line (it being 
 split steel), and run down. ISTo sooner was this accom- 
 plished than the fish dashed away towards the open. 
 Now for the first time the thought struck us that if the 
 fish was not taken our keys were irrecoverably lost. Ee- 
 gretting our impetuosity, we cautiously gave and took 
 line as occasion required. The presence of the nose ring 
 and jingling appendages, meanwhile kept the fish in 
 action. This, however, . speedily told upon him, and 
 finally he was safely gaffed in a more accessible situation. 
 Since this occurred, we have had a number of small 
 bright metal rings made, which we have found most 
 useful for both sulky and jiggering fish. 
 
 Another frequent freak of the fish is to make for un- 
 
236 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 derneatk the boat, when the rodster occupies one; there 
 the tackle is in danger of damage from the rough keel, 
 even if the fisherman is quick enough to pass the rod's 
 point around the stem or stern in time to avoid a dead 
 wrench upon, and probable smash, of the tackle. The 
 sulking propensities of salmon when hooked and wearied 
 by futile efforts to escape, are well-known traits of their 
 character. It is very tantalizing to await the pleasure of 
 a stubborn fish of this description. There are instances 
 upon record of anglers staying through the dark hours 
 with a sulky fish. All that we would say further upon 
 this subject is, that the necessity of such a thing is en- 
 tirely obviated by the use of any small metal contrivance 
 that will serve to drop down the line to arouse the fish 
 from its lethargy or persistent doggedness of disposition. 
 In river fishing for salmon, every stream, pool, and 
 likely eddy, should be well and carefully fished. When 
 the gleam of a fish is discerned below the fly, and no rise 
 ensues, a change of flies should be made. Salmon for 
 fastidiousness stand unequalled. Upon certain days they 
 take with avidity a certain kind of fly, while for some 
 time afterwards it may be refused for another and totally 
 different description. Upon the most frequented salmon 
 waters peculiar flies are used of local notoriety. We do 
 not believe, ourselves, in the hard and fast rules given as 
 to this or that special dressing being infallibly successful 
 upon any specified water, and on its uselessness upon 
 another adjoining lake or river. The salmon fly is but a 
 fanciful combination, arranged with a view to the general 
 artistic effect; and as nature presents no model for man 
 to imitate, the fanciful amalgamations of feathers, tinsel, 
 fur, and wool, are closed upon by the sportive and capri- 
 cious fish, in a mere spirit of wantonness, or because of 
 its being novel. We have often (and we doubt not that 
 a few of our readers have had similar experiences) sur- 
 prised native rodsters by the effect of a non-observance 
 
SALMON AND SEA TKOUT FISHING. 237 
 
 of their given rules of procedure. .A. strange fly, whether 
 it happens to be sombre or gay, frequently does wonders 
 amongst these fickle fish. Change, in this respect, is 
 far more effective in influencing the net yield than can 
 easily be credited. 
 
 Salmon flies exist in myriads of varieties, and to at- 
 tempt to enumerate the whole of those in general esteem 
 would be a needless task. The following are a few of 
 the standard killers of universal repute:* — 
 The Jock Scott, The Wasp. 
 
 " Black Dose. " Doctor. 
 
 " Spey Dog. " Rainbow. 
 
 " Butcher. " Captain. 
 
 " Shannon. " Lightning. 
 
 " Parson. " Blacker's Patterns. 
 
 " Eanger. etc, etc. 
 
 In addition to the above, we commend the following: — 
 The Spanker, the Eob Roy, the Spartan, the Tarn o' 
 Shanter, and the Mac Sporran, for a description of which 
 see Salmon Fly-making. The impartiality of this fish 
 towards any particular lure or class of artificials for all 
 seasons and occasions is in marked contrast with the 
 pedantic partiality of many anglers, who pin their faith 
 upon an odd fly or so, that has happened to do something 
 exceptional in their hands, it may be; but it is of small 
 use trying to convince these of their error. Prejudice 
 and obstinacy satisfy them that they are infallibly right. 
 While fishing some few years ago on Loch Nell, we took 
 an exceptionally large salmon, whose habitual haunt was 
 in one particular spot, near a submerged rock. Upon 
 our return to the inn, the landlord eagerly inquired as to 
 what part of the water he had been extracted from; and 
 our capture proved to be an old acquaintance of his, a 
 
 *The majority of these flies can be bought from American dealers in 
 fishing-tackle. 
 
238 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLER. 
 
 fish that had nevertheless cut his acquaintance very fre- 
 quently according to his account. Though the form and 
 dimensions of the fish greatly interested our worthy host, 
 the fly that had been instrumental in his capture monopo- 
 lized his chief attention. Ever after this event the land- 
 lord played the '"Spanker"' without cessation or intermis- 
 sion. Subsequently, whenever the man was seen with 
 a fish, the query "what fly?' was certain to elicit the 
 reply "Spanker! sir;" indeed, among the visitors, the 
 virtues of the Spanker was so well worn a topic, that the 
 subject was finally suppressed at first scent. 
 
 Spinning and Trolling for sea trout and salmon are 
 common practices in the north, especially upon the lochs, 
 where the bait is spun by a propelled boat at a distance 
 of fifty yards or so m its wake. Whenever the fish refuse 
 to rise, spinning may with advantage be resorted to; 
 indeed, mid- water fishing may, under these circumstances, 
 often be practised with signal success, though as a gen- 
 eral thing, it does not yield the sport of surface fishing. 
 Small fish of almost any description, when from four to 
 six inches in length, may be used. The best artificial 
 baits are the metal ones, the " Universal," "Excelsior," 
 " Devon," and "Spoon." 
 
 The Red Caterpillar is as killing a lure for salmon and 
 sea trout when they are not rising, as it is for common 
 brown trout, etc. It is used in precisely the same way, 
 but is constructed, as a matter of course, much larger ; 
 the loop too, at the head, should be of double salmon 
 gut. Black palmers with silver twist are also good, but 
 not to be compared with the red, as the habitual users of 
 both can testify. If there is anything objectionable in 
 the use of the Caterpillar for sea trout and salmon, it is 
 the partiality of the smaller fry for them ; they, especially 
 the brown trout, are really boring in their incessant at- 
 tentions. At the end of a day upon the Awe in Argyle- 
 shire, when we had been more than usually pestered in 
 
SALMON" AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 239 
 
 this manner, the following colloquy ensued with Gibby, 
 the gillie in charge of the boat. 
 
 "Faith, and dun yer ken what fysshe wa'en ta'en the 
 day, weth the hairy worren ? " 
 
 "No!" 
 
 "Wal, twanty-four dozen sma' throut jest — an they 
 twa white fysshe — sure, it's a fearsome baste, an' a regular 
 kill devil." 
 
 To those anglers who habitually smoke whilst fishing, 
 and their name is legion, we would tender a word of ad- 
 vice. Never carry Vesuvius loose in your waistcoat 
 pocket, or you may perchance be troubled with a touch 
 of heartburn externally, as was the experience of the 
 writer on one occasion whilst playing a fish from the 
 banks of the Tweed. We had unconsciously given the 
 receptacle of the pipe lights a touch with the butt end of 
 the rod, when the whole ignited, the result of the con- 
 flagration being loss of the fish, and the spoliation of 
 certain garments. 
 
 We may here also observe, that when landing a fish 
 with a short-handled gaff upon a high bank over deep 
 water, it is not always safe to be backed with a well-filled 
 creel, for should the creel happen to find its way to the 
 front, suddenly and unexpectedly you may feel as we 
 did once, viz., that a cold water plunge is inevitable 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 In salmon as in trout fishing, the location of a fish 
 poised for feeding or perhaps rising, requires often a little 
 reconnoitring. The course of the water in his immediate 
 vicinity should be noted, and the lure presented accord- 
 ingly. In order to circumvent exceptionally large fish 
 more particularly, it is by no means advisable to cast 
 haphazard in the vicinity of the fish before the distance 
 is rightly calculated, or the course of the water appre- 
 ciated. If it is your earnest desire to take the fish seen 
 rising, like an efficient general you must take in the 
 
240 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 bearing of the situation, with a view to so presenting the 
 lure as to leave nothing wanting in skill and judgment 
 upon the part of the rodster. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVI. 
 
 ABOUT HOOKS. 
 
 CRIPPLED HOOKS ; THE OVER-BARBED HOOK ; DEFECTS IN TEMPER, 
 ETC. ; THE LIMERICK : KENDAL-SNECK ; CARLISLE ; KJRBY ; 
 THE "SWAN" BEND; THE NEW EYED HOOKS. 
 
 In a country which takes the lead in piscatorial pur- 
 suits, and whose improvements serve as the type and 
 pattern for other nations, constant progress should at 
 least be made, and improvements achieved in order to 
 retain the position gained. If there is one thing more 
 than another, in this branch of industry that we excel in, 
 it is the manufacture of our hooks. These are in general 
 use upon the continent, in the colonies, and everywhere 
 where the angling art is practised. It will, therefore, be 
 readily couceded by all who have devoted attention to the 
 subject, that more attention is due to this important item 
 in the angler's equipage and in our national commerce, 
 than has, of late years, been bestowed upon it. Previous 
 to our suggesting any impro\ements in detail, we intend 
 calling attention to a few very common defects in hooks, 
 as generally constructed, to which may be directly traced 
 much unnecessary loss and disaster. 
 
 The excessively bony nature of the mouth of most fish 
 has frequently a very trying effect upon the hook; there- 
 fore, any little deficiency in its make, or manner of con- 
 struction, leads to untold evils. In order to render our- 
 
ABOUT HOOKS. 241 
 
 selves intelligible to the reader we shall first describe the 
 usual system of making the hook. First, then, the wire 
 is struck off in given lengths, in accordance with the size 
 of the hook required; next, the point is formed and the 
 shank reduced by a few strokes of the file ; and next, the 
 barb is cut by means of a large knife. All is now ready 
 for bending, which is one of the most particular items in 
 the construction, as the operation decides the shape, and 
 consequently, the particular species of hook to be pro- 
 duced. This is quickly done by means of a small steel 
 block around which the wire is bent, the shape of the 
 block varying according to the particular bend required. 
 Now comes the final operation, viz., that of tempering. 
 This is done in a large pan over a slow furnace. Millions 
 of hooks are frequently tempered in one operation, there- 
 fore the greatest care should be bestowed upon this im- 
 portant point ; but of this more anon. The most fertile 
 source of complaint is, we believe, the undue weakness 
 of the majority of hooks at the barb (see diagram VI., 
 fig. 2). A deeply barbed hook may be safely discarded 
 as being too dangerous to use. There is no earthly ne- 
 cessity for it. Not only is the wire half cut through by 
 the operation, but the point of the hook is forced quite 
 out of the straight line ; thus, not only requiring heavier 
 striking to hook a fish properly, but being more liable to 
 snap by the sudden strain. The very action of inserting 
 the bearding knife too deeply causes the point to project 
 outwards inadvertently (see Plate 6, fig. 2), giving it a 
 "scratch and let go" appearance, and no less effect ; in- 
 deed, there are but two alternatives for a hook of this 
 description when a fish is caught upon the gristly or bony 
 part of the mouth — (1) to scratch as described, or (2) to 
 break clean off at the barb near the point of the hook. 
 We have seen hooks fitted with costly salmon flies, nine- 
 tenths of them being quite useless, having broken at this 
 identical point. A batch was shown to us by (the late) 
 11 
 
242 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 Mr. Frank Buckland, H. M. Inspector of Inland Fisheries, 
 numbering one hundred and twenty-seven, all broken. 
 The original value ranged from five shillings to one guinea 
 each. * Nine of these were broken at the sharp bend of 
 the Limerick hook, the whole of the remainder at the 
 barb. The loss incurred at this rate is considerable, 
 and when we take the fish into account, it is simply- 
 monstrous. 
 
 This defect is by no means confined to the Limerick 
 bend of hook ; it is frequently more conspicuous in the 
 Sneck or Kendal bent hooks, so universally used in trout 
 fishing : vide the experience of everybody. Another point 
 of paramount importance is the tempering, as when this 
 is done in a defective manner, by being left too high or 
 too low, disappointment and loss ensue as the inevitable 
 result. 
 
 Among non-japanned hooks uselessly soft ones may 
 sometimes be distinguished by the color, as when steel is 
 left a very light blue, it is invariably soft and pliable. 
 The best tempered hooks are left a purple-blue color. In 
 japanned hooks the only reliable way of detecting faulty 
 ones is to test them by sticking the point in a piece of 
 porous wood or cork, and applying a heavy though steady 
 strain to the shank. Our idea of a perfect Limerick salmon 
 hook we give upon Plate 6, fig. 3. The distance from the 
 bend to the point is greatly diminished ; the barb and 
 point being short and sharp are well adapted to take good 
 and firm hold upon a hard or soft substance. The main 
 strength of metal, too, is just where most needed, namely, 
 at the sudden turn of the bend, which, it may be ob- 
 served, is not nearly so sharp or decisive as in the old 
 style Limerick. Experience teaches, so says the maxim. 
 Experience long since taught us that changes in this 
 respect were absolutely necessary, and for an equally long 
 
 ♦Rather costly salmon flics — fifteen to sixty dollars per dozen. 
 
ABOUT HOOKS. 243 
 
 period experience, the self-same teacher, has proved the 
 hook now submitted to be perfectly exempt from the evils 
 previously pointed out. The Kendal Sneck, to which 
 we have already made some allusion, is the bend generally 
 adopted for trout flies. It is often made from very fine 
 wire, which renders it useless for a heavy fish. This is 
 the hook most generally used for dry-fly fishing. A ju- 
 diciously tapered shank will reduce the weight whilst 
 retaining the full strength round the bend requisite for 
 an emergency. This, as we have already pointed out, 
 is of the most vital importance ; an exhibition of false 
 economy in this matter will cause the angler's skill to 
 avail nothing. We know of no more tantalizing thing 
 than to lose the heaviest fish of the day, month, or season, 
 through a defective book. When once a fish is well 
 hooked upon sound "tack," it is the rodster's own fault 
 if he fails to land it. A spell at the salmon will frequent- 
 ly put out the delicacy of the trout fisher's touch, and 
 he, by too sanguine striking, will lose every fish he hooks, 
 either by breaking away the hold, or otherwise the hook. 
 The range of Kendal hooks, given upon the plate, shows 
 the relative strength and sizes of what we have used for 
 trouting flies for many years. The Kendal hook should 
 be slightly crooked or twisted in the bend, as the body 
 and the hackle standing out will, to some extent, serve 
 to guard the point. A great many of the short rises one 
 experiences sometimes, are due to the non-observance of 
 this rule, the fish taking the fly with the skin of his 
 teeth, so to speak, the point fails to take any hold what- 
 ever. The wide "span" of the salmon hook obviates the 
 necessity of this. The trout hook then, for the same 
 reason, should have reasonable scope in this respect, so 
 as to be capable of taking broad hold and to retain it. 
 The point and barb should be anything but "proud;" 
 the evils of this are far more objectionable, whilst being 
 quite as prevalent, in smaller and lighter hooks, than has 
 
#44 THE SCIENTIFIC AXGLEK. 
 
 been shown in the case of the heavy Limerick. The re- 
 lative weight-sustaining powers of straight-pointed and 
 "rake-pointed" hooks may be exemplified in the follow- 
 ing manner. Take a " rake " pointed, deeply-barbed 
 Limerick, Kendal, or any other bend, and take also a 
 "straight" pointed hook of the same size and strength 
 of metal. Secure a length of gut to the shank of each 
 hook, and stick the points slightly into a deal board, and 
 now attach a spring-balance to each piece of gut, and 
 pull. The staying powers of the "straight point "will 
 be found to be almost double that of the others. 
 
 The eyed hook (Plate 6, fig. 4) is a new bend, the joint 
 production of Capt. Bankart, Leicester; Capt. Turle, and 
 Mr. H. S. Hall, of Clifton. The bend is a sort of cross 
 between the old Kirby and the Limerick. The color is of 
 a light brown, like that of an ordinary steel pen. This is 
 a decided improvement on the japanning system, and de- 
 serves to be more generally adopted. The advantages of 
 the loop at the head of a made-up artificial are consider- 
 able, the loss occasioned by the gut fraying or necking 
 off being greatly diminished, if not entirely obviated. 
 All large or heavy flies have of necessity to be dressed 
 looped. In the case of the very finest, for dry-fly or 
 grayling fishing, it is scarcely so advisable, especially in 
 still waters, or the chalk streams of Hampshire, where, 
 as in the lower portions of those of Derby and neighbor- 
 ing counties, it is absolutely necessary to float the dry fly 
 over every fish. It will be seen that the loop projects 
 upwards. This in a manner casts the weight upon the 
 wings, and preserves the equilibrium of the "artificial." 
 The gut may be attached to the loop, as in the case of 
 Salmon flies, by means of the slip knot, known as the 
 "Carrick bend." with this difference, that the gut is 
 passed through the underside of the loop first. 
 
 Hooks used for spinning purposes are required to be 
 very heavily ironed, more especially for pike: weak trian- 
 
ABOUT HOOKS. 245 
 
 gles are the rule rather than the exception. Weight here 
 is no detriment but rather an advantage. In -selecting 
 hooks, the weight they are required to bear should ahvays 
 be taken into consideration, and the thickness of the 
 wire chosen accordingly. Treble hooks for salmon and 
 pike fishing in particular, are much too delicate, general- 
 ly speaking. We have seen several triangles broken at 
 the strike of a heavy fish. The temper of many triangles, 
 or brazed hooks sold, has been affected during the brazing 
 operation. The plan generally adopted over-tempers 
 them, thus causing them to be hard and brittle ; and as 
 two or sometimes three and more hooks have frequently 
 to be driven home, the odds are that if the fish does not 
 break them the rodster often does. Breakages are so rife 
 in the case of brazed hooks, owing mainly to the causes 
 above named, that many anglers have been led to eschew 
 them altogether; but the fault lies largely with the 
 angler who selects them too fine and delicate in the 
 metal. 
 
 The hooks requisite for successful roach fishing should 
 be moderately long-shanked. We prefer the "Sneck" 
 to the "round" or Carlisle bend, the latter being fre- 
 quently too short in the shank, and having much too 
 exaggerated a ' ' span " in the bend to work with a short 
 shank properly. The remarks anent weak wire apply 
 equally to round bend roach hooks ; and if we combine 
 with the above the usual fault of a turned-out, rakish- 
 looking point, no room is left for surprise at the many 
 disasters incurred by their use. The greater utility of a 
 well-proportioned hook may be easily ascertained by the 
 following simple experiment. Take two hooks — a mod- 
 erately long-shanked one nicely tapered, with a straight 
 point, and a short-shanked hook with a turned-out point. 
 Attach gut to each. Now procure a small piece of parch- 
 ment or thin card-board, upon which take good hold with 
 both hooks and endeavor to penetrate this by applying 
 
246 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 
 
 equal pressure to each. If this is done at all evenly the 
 long-shanked hook will quickly pierce the substance, 
 making a clean incision ; meanwhile the attitude of the 
 remaining hook scarcely admits of any impression being 
 made at all, a perfectly flat surface being presented from 
 the tip of the point to the end of the barb, which effect- 
 ually prevents any incision. 
 
 Most of the various forms or bends of the hooks now 
 in use were introduced before the advent of the present 
 century. Of these, however, there have since been many 
 modifications and variations. One of the oldest bends is 
 the "Kirby,"the originator, Charles Kirby, having lived 
 and flourished in the seventeenth century. In the third 
 edition of an old book on Angling, published in 1T00, 
 entitled, " The Angler's Vade Mecum," — a copy of which 
 we are pleased to be able to say we have in our possession 
 — the following quaint advertisement appears appended 
 to the preface : — 
 
 "At the Sign of the Fish, in Black Horse Alley near 
 Fleet Bridge, liveth Will Browne, who maketh all sorts 
 of Fishing Rods, and selleth all sorts of Fishing Tackle ; 
 also Charlie Kirby's Hooks, with Worms, Gentles and 
 Fly's ; and also the East India Weed, which is the only 
 thing for Trout, Carp, and Bottom Fishing, first being 
 well soaked for half-an-hour before you use it in water, 
 being of a brittle nature, if not moistened before used, 
 and then proves so strong and fine, of a water-colour, 
 that it deceives the Fish, much more than Hair or Silk. 
 Note — That Kirby's Hooks are known by the fineness of 
 the Wyer and Strength, and many Shops sell Counter- 
 feit for his, which prove prejudicial to the User. The 
 true Kirby's are to be sold by Will Browne and nowhere 
 Else." 
 
 Kirby's hooks, however, have long since been discarded, 
 except in perch and such like fishing. Another hook that 
 used to be greatly in vogue was the "Staple bend." 
 
ABOUT HOOKS. 24? 
 
 Sproat's, too, have now about gone out.* Those in gen- 
 eral use at the present day are the Sneck or Kendal, the 
 Limerick, and Carlisle, or round bend ; for eels, the bend 
 known as the "Shepherd's Crook," is much used. 
 
 For fine grayling fishing, perhaps, a really strong and 
 delicate hook is more essential than in any other style or 
 system of angling. The grayling is a much more fastid- 
 ious fish than the trout, and is moreover the most tender- 
 mouthed fish that swims. It is no uncommon thing for 
 the angler, when fishing for grayling, to find a portion 
 of the jaw of an escaped fish remaining upon his hook ; 
 more especially when rough bottom tackle is used. The 
 hook useful for trout is, generally speaking, too large and 
 heavy for grayling, the excessively small flies he usually 
 prefers being difficult to copy when a clumsy and heavy 
 hook is employed. There has long been a want felt of 
 a suitable hook for grayling, to be at once light, durable, 
 and effective in shape and make. Many experiments we 
 have tried in years past with the view of surmounting 
 this difficulty, but failure was the characteristic feature 
 of each, until we accidentally hit upon a peculiar bend 
 (Plate 6, fig. 5), which was found to work with unusual 
 success. Conjointly with several friends of the rod, we 
 have tested this hook thoroughly, and with perfectly 
 satisfactory results. 
 
 This hook has been designated the " Swan "-bend, and 
 as such it is known amongst the few anglers who have 
 hitherto kept it a secret. It may be gathered from what 
 has been previously stated that the faults and deficiencies, 
 as well as the merits of hooks, rest to a great extent with 
 the manufacturer. 
 
 * The Sproat hook, if not made of the best material is certainly a de- 
 lusion and a snare — not for the fish, but the angler. When it is made 
 right and of the very best material, it has in my opinion no superior. 
 
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 "Thi9 is the only book yet published which gives the haunts and habits of 
 the feathered game of the North American Continent, from a sportsman's point 
 of view, and is therefore valuable to all lovers of the gun." — The Sportsman. 
 
 " Mr. Murphy possesses the somewhat rare faculty of giving a vast amount 
 of information in a concise and interesting manner. — 'American Game Bird 
 Shooting ' will be found fully as interesting to the ordinary reader as to the 
 most ardent votary of the dog and gun." — 2V. T. Herald. 
 
 "A work which may be read with both pleasure and profit by sportsmen 
 generally, and it is a timely addition to the literature of sport." — Turf, Field 
 and Farm. 
 
 " This volume contains descriptions of our game and water-fowl, treats of 
 their haunts and habits and also of the various modes employed in their capture; 
 there are at least many things in its pages which it may be worth while for the 
 tyro to know."— Forest and Stream. 
 
 " A splendid book for true sportsmen." — Ohio Farmer. 
 
 HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED. 
 12mo. Cloth. Tinted Paper. Price, post-paid, $2.00. 
 
 ORANGE JTJDD COMPANY, 751 Broadway, New York. 
 
JUST PUBLISHED. 
 
 PRACTICAL HINTS 
 
 ON 
 
 RIFLE PRACTICE 
 
 WITH 
 
 MILITARY ARMS. 
 
 By C. E. PRESCOTT. 
 
 A most useful little Hand-book for the many who wish to attain skill in the 
 use of the Rifle. Pocket Edition. 
 
 Flexible Cloth, 18mc>. PRICE, POST-PAID, 50 CENTS. 
 
 THE 
 
 SAILING BOAT 
 
 Practical Instructions for its Management. 
 
 Together with "Nautical Vocabulary," "Weather Indications," and "Rules 
 for Sailing Boat Mutches." 
 
 By C. E. PRESCOTT. 
 
 Flexible Cloth, 18mo. PRICE, POST-PAID, 50 CENTS. 
 
 ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 751 Broadway, New York. 
 
COLORADO 
 As an Agricultural State. 
 
 Its Farms, Fields, and Garden Lands. 
 
 By WILLIAM E. PABOR. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
 A, Volume of Great Value and Interest to those seeking 
 "Farms and Homes in the Far West 
 
 In his preface to this work the author says : In preparing this volume I have 
 aimed to keep strictly within the border line of facts. Twelve years of careful 
 observation, a personal acquaintance with nearly all the valleys described 
 herein, an earnest desire to make public the agricultural resources of a State 
 whose remarkable growth has no parallel in American history,— these have 
 been impelling motives in the preparation of this truthful account of the val- 
 leys, plains, and parks of Colorado. 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter I. — Introductory. 
 
 " II.— Historical and Geo- 
 graphical. 
 
 " En.— Colonization in Colo- 
 rado. 
 
 " IV.— Irrigation — Measure- 
 ment of Water. 
 
 " V.— Area Susceptible of Ir- 
 rigation: 
 
 " VI. — How Farming Pays. 
 VII— Cacha-la-Poudre Val- 
 ley. 
 VHI— BigThompson,Little 
 Thompson, St. Vrain. 
 
 " EX.— Boulder and Clear 
 Creek Valleys. 
 
 4i X.— South Platte Valley. 
 
 " XI. — Southern Colorado. 
 
 Chapter XII.— San Luis Park. 
 
 " XIII.— Southwestern Colo- 
 rado. 
 
 " XIV.— Artesian Wells— Res- 
 ervoirs. 
 
 " XV.— Apiculture. 
 
 " XVI. — Fruit Growing. 
 
 " XVII.— Questions and An- 
 swers. 
 
 " XVIII.— Colorado Agricul- 
 tural College. 
 
 " XIX.— Farming Journals. 
 XX.— Cattle and Sheep. 
 
 " ' XXL— The Railway System 
 of the State. 
 XXII.— Garden Culture by 
 Irrigation. 
 
 12mo. Cloth. Price, post-paid. $1.50. 
 
 ORANGE JUDD COMPANY, 751 Broadway, New York. 
 
The American Agriculturist 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Farm, Garden, and Household. 
 
 Established in 1842. 
 
 Ike Best anfl Cheapest Agricultural Journal in tie forlfl. 
 
 Terms, which include postage pre-paid by tbe Publishers: Sl.5U.per annnm, 
 in advance ; 3 copies for Q4 ; 4 copies for £5 ; 5 copies for £6 ; 6 copies for $7 ; 
 7 copies for $8 ; 10 or more copies, only §1 each. Single Numbers, 15 cents. 
 
 AMERIKANISCHER AGRICULTURIST. 
 
 The only purely Agricultural German paper in the United States, and the 
 best in the world. It contains all of the principal matter of the English Edition, 
 together with special departments for German cultivators, prepared by writers 
 trained for the work. Terms same as for the " American Agriculturist." 
 
 BOOKS FOR FARMERS AUD OTHERS. 
 
 Send ten cents for our new handsomely illustrated and descriptive Catalogue 
 of Books on all branches of Agriculture, Horticulture, Architecture, etc. All 
 books comprised in this Catalogue will he mailed pre-paid on receipt of the 
 price named. Our abridged descriptive Catalogue of Books will be sent free on 
 application. 
 
 Books on Out-Door Sports and Pastimes. 
 
 Send five cents for our new and elegantly gotten up Sportsman's Com- 
 panion, containing brief descriptions or outlines of nearly one hundred and 
 eighty works upon legitimate Out-door Sports and Amusements, and illustrat- 
 ed with a great number of engravings, many of them drawn from life, and 
 faithfully portraying the points and characteristics of game, birds, fishes, 
 horses, dogs, etc., etc. 
 
 OBANGE JTTDD COMPANY, 751 Broadway, New York.