LIST OF SALMON-FLIES. 85 the reader has only to turn to the opposite plate and he will at once see the size of the hook recommended. Mr. Phillips numbers his hooks differently, thus - No. 4. is his largest hook, and corresponds to my No. 1.; he then proceeds, No. 5., No. 6., No. 7., No. 8., No. 9. He here stops, his No. 9. corresponding with my No. 6., and then he goes on with letters, thus―BB., B., CC., CC. (small), the latter corresponding with my No. 10., which is the smallest hook used in fly-fishing for salmon. List of Salmon Flies. At the head of my list of flies I place descriptions of those represented in the plates. They are all standard flies for one river or another, and some of them will kill salmon in any part of the empire. They are given chiefly with the intention of showing what a salmon-fly should be in shape and general colour. In describing how each is made, I have stated my opinion with respect to its killing qualities. PLATE I. (See Frontispiece.) No. 1. THE GOLDFINCH.-This is a noted salmon-fly suited for low spring, summer, and 86 THE GOLDFINCH AND BRITANNIA. It is a grace autumn water in the Shannon. ful model of a gaudy fly, simple in its brilliancy. It will kill well at Ballyshannon, and in most rivers of dull mornings and evenings. It is too bright for clear shallow water. It is a standard fly for grilse-fishing in the Shannon. It is made thus: Body, gold-coloured floss silk; black silk tag, tipped with gold tinsel; ginger-hackle and gold tinsel over body; blue jay at the shoulder, and kingfisher over the butts of the wings, which are to consist of eight or nine golden pheasant toppings of middling size. They should project by half an inch beyond the extreme bend of the hook. Feelers, red macaw; head, black ostrich ; tail, golden pheasant topping. Hook, No. 5. and 6. This fly may be advantageously varied, thus: Black floss silk for body; tag, gold colour, tinsel and hackle as before; no blue jay or kingfisher's feather, and head light puce fur. By dressing it in this manner it will not be so gaudy as before. No. 2. THE BRITANNIA. -Body, orange pig's hair, ribbed with gold and silver twist; tag, black ostrich harl; over the body a scarlet or blood-red hackle, and a purple one at and above the shoulder; two toppings for tail; wings, two shovel-duck feathers, four toppings, a blue chatterer's feather each side, and outside and a little under them THE ERIN-GO-BRAGH. 87 some silver pheasant tail-feather; small black head. Hook, No. 4. and 5. This fly in large rivers, or in those in which fish take large flies, I consider the best of all general flies known to me. I do not think large salmon will refuse it in any river in the world, when water is high and slightly discoloured by recent floods. As Britannia is the ruler of the waves, this name-sake of hers is a ruler of the waters. No. 3. THE ERIN-GO-BRAGH. - Body very long, like those of the large-sized natural dragonflies, and to be made of green floss silk, and ribbed with gold tinsel and joints of green peacock harl from tag to wings; tag, light yellow and deep orange silk; over body, a dark green or black hackle; round the shoulder deep orange hackle; wings, two toppings mixed with Argus pheasant tailfeather, brown mallard and wood-duck, and a very little blue jay over the butt of the wings, which are to lie long, thin, and delicately over the hook; head, bronze peacock harl; tail, golden pheasant topping. Hook, as long in the shank as a No. 3., but to be of finer wire, and as small in the bend as a No. 6. hook. This fly is a model of gracefulness, and it will prove exceedingly attractive in pools of medium G 4 |