chap, v.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 297 



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 vour 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 choose 

 to angle at : and for a Trout-river, one of five or 

 six yards long is commonly enough ; and longer, 

 though never so neatly and artificially made, it 

 ought not to be, if you intend to fish at ease ; and if 

 otherwise, where lies the sport ? 



Of these, the best that ever I saw are made in 

 Yorkshire, which are all of one piece : that is to say 

 of several, six, eight, ten, or twelve pieces, so neatly 

 pieced, and tied together with fine thread below, 

 and silk above, as to make it taper, like a switch, 

 and to ply with a true bent to your hand. And these, 

 too, are light, being made of fir- wood for two or 

 three lengths nearest to the hand, and of other 

 wood nearer to the top ; that a man might very 

 easily manage the longest of them that ever I saw, 

 with one hand. And these, when you have given 

 over Angling for a season, being taken to pieces, 



