248 STRAIGHT CASTING EULOGISED. 



are always the neatest, and should by beginners be, 

 the first learnt, and then practised unto perfection. 

 They can be performed with great accuracy, so as 

 to enable the angler to determine, almost to an 

 inch, the precise spot on which his fly is to fall. 

 They cause the fly and casting-line to touch the 

 water first, and enable you to commence working 

 the fly or showing it to the fish, sooner than you 

 could do if much of the winch-line came in con- 

 tact with the water simultaneously with the 

 casting-line. The effect of the straight cast is 

 less disturbance to the water than that of any 

 other species of cast ; the only defect that can be 

 attached to it is, that you cannot by its means 

 throw so far as by using the side, or rolling cast, 

 but you can throw it more neatly. 



Your fly and gut-line must always fall first 

 upon the water, and not roll on to it by means of 

 the winch-line first coming into contact with the 

 liquid surface. The rolling descent of the line 

 and fly should be avoided totis viribus, with mortal 

 might and main. The error of the majority of 

 salmon-fishers lies in their working the fly through 

 the water with too much force and rapidity. I 

 am told, and I have reason to believe it from 

 some personal observation, that the error is more 

 frequently committed by Irish salmon-fishers than 

 by Scotch. The latter, however, perpetrate it 

 commonly enough to be adjudged sinners re- 



