CHAPTER IV 



Pise. Why then, Sir, to begin methodically, as a master 

 in any art should do ; and I will not deny but that I 

 think myself a master in this, I shall divide angling for 

 trout or grayling into these three ways ; at the top, at the 

 bottom, and in the middle. Which three ways, though 

 they are all of them, as I shall hereafter endeavour to 

 make it appear, in some sort common to both those 

 kinds of fish, yet are they not so generally and absolutely 

 so, but that they will necessarily require a distinction, 

 which, in due place, I will also give you. 



That which we call angling at the top, is with a fly ; 

 at the bottom, with a ground-bait ; in the middle, with 

 a minnow or ground-bait. 



Angling at the top is of two sorts ; with a quick [live] 

 fly, or with an artificial fly. 



That we call angling at the bottom is also of two sorts ; 

 by the hand, or with a cork or float. 



That we call angling in the middle is also of two sorts ; 

 with a minnow for a trout, or with a ground-bait for a 

 grayling.* 



Of all which several sorts of angling, I will, if you can 

 have the patience to hear me, give you the best account 

 I can. 



VIAT. The trouble will be yours, and mine the pleasure 

 and the obligation : I beseech you therefore to proceed. 



Pise. Why then, first of fly-fishing. 



* Angling " in the middle," means trolling and spinning. Fishing 

 with a ground-bait for grayling is not angling at the middle, but at 

 the bottom. There is a method of fishing for grayling and other fish 

 called " sinking and drawing," which consists in part of fishing at the 

 bottom, the middle, and nearly at the top. 



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