3021 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



of the fish, who to humour your exercise puts 

 himself out of humour, chiefly and principally 

 when he parts with his life. These requisite pre- 

 cautions ought to be the study of every studious 

 and ingenious angler, together with the know- 

 ledg of time and season, when to resort to the 

 river for recreation. The next thing necessary 

 is the shape of your rod, which ought in all re- 

 spects to represent the rush in its growth ; for 

 that end we call it rush-grown : and be sure it 

 be streight and plient. Your line also that must 

 be accurate and exactly taper'd ; your hook well 

 compassed, well pointed, and well barbed : and 

 be mindful that your shank exceed not in length ; 

 I mean not so long as when you drag with the 

 ground -bait. Nor is it proper for the artist to 

 court a stream, except he be always provided of 

 his dubbing bag, wherein are contained all sorts 

 of thrums, threads, silks, moccado-ends, silver 

 and gold twist ; which are of excellent use to 

 adorn your fly, and in a great measure quicken 

 the sight of your game ; provided the day be 

 promiscuous and dark, occasioned by smooty 

 and discoloured clouds. 



Now should I enumerate the multiform va- 

 riety of animals, the various colours and pro- 

 portion of insects, with the diversity of flies, it 

 would but redouble my labour and trouble; 

 since already I have discoursed them in another 



