THE COMPLETE ANGLER 277 



wise, peradventure be removed to some other place, if 

 it be in the still deeps, where he is always in motion, 

 and roving up and down to look for prey, though, in a 

 stream, you may always almost, especially if there be a 

 good stone near, find him in the same place. Your line 

 ought in this case to be three good hairs next the hook, 

 both by reason you are in this kind of angling to expect 

 the biggest fish, and also that wanting length to give him 

 line after he is struck, you must be forced to tug for it ; 

 to which I will also add, that not an inch of your line being 

 to be suffered to touch the water in dibbing, it may be 

 allowed to be the stronger. I should now give you a 

 description of those flies, their shape and colour, and then 

 give you an account of their breeding, and withal shew you 

 how to keep and use them ; but shall defer them to their 

 proper place and season. 



VIAT. In earnest, Sir, you discourse very rationally 

 of this affair,* and I am glad to find myself mistaken 

 in you ; for in truth I did not expect so much 

 from you. 



Pise. Nay, Sir, I can tell you a great deal more than 

 this, and will conceal nothing from you. But I must 

 now come to the second way of angling at the top, which 

 is with an artificial fly, which also I will shew you how 

 to make before I have done, but first shall acquaint you, 

 that with this you are to angle with a line longer by a 

 yard and a half, or sometimes two yards, than your rod ; 

 and with both this and the other, in a still day in the 

 streams, in a breeze that curls the water in the still deeps, 

 where (excepting in May and June, that the best trouts 

 will lie in shallow streams to watch for prey, and even 

 then too) you are like to hit the best fish. 



For the length of your rod, you are always to be 

 governed by the breadth of the river you shall chuse to 



* This compliment is well-deserved : Cotton understood " dap- 

 ing, dabbing, or dibbing " well, and teaches it soundly. E. 



