FLY-FISHING. 265 



by its pressure on the bag of the line, will carry 

 them out of itself. In fishing a stream there is 

 much to be learned in the art of jerking the flies 

 under the bushes, and tossing the back line dh^ectly 

 upwards to avoid entanglements, instead of behind 

 the angler ; proficiency should be obtained with the 

 left hand as well as with the right, and in right and 

 left casts, that is to say, where the line is raised 

 on either side and the flies brought over either 

 shoulder. This last point is essential if two anglers 

 are to fish from the same boat, for each should 

 invariably keep the tip of his rod over the shoulder 

 opposite to his neighbor. 



These observations are probably all that can be 

 placed on paper with any advantage, for complete 

 knowledge can only be obtained at the brook or 

 pond under the guidance of those skilful teachers, 

 patience and perseverance ; and after the line has 

 been neatly cast and the trout lured from his lair 

 under the bank of the stream, or his mossy bed at 

 the bottom of the pond, the art of striking him, that 

 is, fixing the hook firmly in his mouth when he has 

 grasped it, can only be acquired by actual experi- 

 ence. All written directions on this subject maybe 

 reduced to two — it is done with a motion of the wrist 

 and as quickly as possible ; and yet if this art is not 

 mastered, the rest will be in vain. 



There are few matters connected with fly-fishing 



that have been more discussed, and about which 



there has been more difference of opinion, than the 



length of line that can be cast with the ordinary 



12 



