316 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part ii. 



which I presume he has most frequented, and 

 where 'tis likely he has done most execution, there 

 is not much notice taken of many more : but we are 

 acquainted with several others here, though, per- 

 haps, I may reckon some of his by other names 

 too ; but if I do, I shall make you amends by an 

 addition to his catalogue. And although the fore- 

 named great Master in the art of Angling, for so 

 in truth he is, tells you that no man should in ho- 

 nesty catch a Trout till the middle of March, yet I 

 hope he will give a man leave sooner to take a 

 Grayling ; which, as I told you, is in the dead 

 months in his best season : and do assure you, 

 which I remember by a very remarkable token, I 

 did once take upon the sixth day of December, one, 

 and only one, of the biggest Graylings, and the best 

 in season, that ever I yet saw, or tasted ; and do usu- 

 ally take Trouts too, and with a fly, not only before 

 the middle of this month, but almost every year in 

 February, unless it be a very ill spring indeed : and 

 have sometimes in January, so early as New-year's- 

 tide, and in frost and snow, taken Grayling in a 

 warm sun- shine day for an hour or two about 

 noon ; and to fish for him with a grub it is then 

 the best time of all. 



I shall therefore begin my fly-fishing with that 

 month (though I confess very few begin so soon, 

 and that such as are so fond of the sport as to em- 

 brace all opportunities, can rarely in that month 



