him very propitiously.

And now comes another and an important question. For which of all
these dainty eatables, if for any, do the trout take our flies? and
from that arises another. Why are the flies with which we have been
fishing this morning so large--of the size which is usually employed
on a Scotch lake? You are a North-country fisher, and are wont, upon
your clear streams, to fish with nothing but the smallest gnats. And
yet our streams are as clear as yours: what can be clearer?

Whether fish really mistake our artificial flies for different
species of natural ones, as Englishmen hold; or merely for something
good to eat, the colour whereof strikes their fancy, as Scotchmen
think--a theory which has been stated in detail, and with great
semblance of truth, in Mr. Stewart's admirable 'Practical Angler,'--
is a matter about which much good sense has been written on both
sides.

Whosoever will, may find the great controversy fully discussed in the
pages of Ephemera. Perhaps (as in most cases) the truth lies between
the two extremes; at least, in a chalk-stream.

Ephemera's list of flies may be very excellent, but it is about ten
times as long as would be required for any of our southern streams.
Six or seven sort of flies ought to suffice for any fisherman; if
they will not kill, the thing which will kill is yet to seek.

To name them:-

1. The caperer.