AKTIhMCI Al, FI.IKS. 355 



not too vioU-nt, and is i>(|imlly coiulucivc to hcaltli nnd pli-asurr. 

 1 have alrnuly said tlint a onc-handcd rod sliould he. ten or 

 twelve feet long, and a two-liandcd rod from sixteen to ei},'hteen 

 feet; to either of which must he attached a reel containing 

 thirty yju'da of twisted silk and hair line, tapering from a 

 modcrnte thickness to a few hairs, at the end of which you are, 

 by a loop, to attach the bottom tackle. This should he made 

 of round, even gut, and three- yards long; some persons prefer 

 four yards ; but 1 think too great a length of gut increases the 

 dillieidty in casting the line. Those bottom tackles may be 

 purchased at the shops in two, three, or four-yard lengths. 

 These lines shouhl also taper gradually, the gut lieing nnich 

 stronger at the end which is to be attached to the line on the 

 reel, than at the end to which the stretcher-tly is to be ti.xed. 

 \Vhen you fish with oidy two flies, the second — or drop-fly — 

 should be at a distance of thirty-six or fcu'ty inches from the 

 bottom, or stretcher-fly ; but, if you use three flics, the first 

 drop should be only thirty-four inches from the stretcher, and 

 the second drop thirty inches from the first. These drop-flics 

 arc attached to the line by loo[)-<. and should not be more than 

 three inches long; and, by ha\ing the gut rather stronger than 

 for the end-lly, tlicy \\\\\ stand nearly at a right angle from the 

 line. 1 recommend the beginner to comnu-nct- with one fly 

 only ; bu^ at most, he must not u.se more than two; and, as for 

 his mode of casting, or throwing his fly, now his tackle is pre- 

 pared, I fear little useful instruction can be given, as skill and 

 dexterity, in this |)oint, must dei)cn(l upon prncticc. 1 may, 

 however, advise him not to attempt to cast a long line at first, 

 but to tn- his strength, and gain facility by degrees. He must 



