FLY-FISHING. 268 



that those of one page will come opposite the hooks 

 on the other in such manner that there can be no 

 entanglement ; of course the snells of the stretchers 

 cannot be kept straightened, but the droppers, hav- 

 ing shorter snells, may be secured under strips of 

 paper, and left at full length, the alternate flies 

 being at each extremity of the leaf; and on the 

 adjoining leaf in the pockets may be similar flies 

 dressed for stretchers. Or the droppers, all having 

 the gut tied, of the same length by measurement, 

 over two pins stuck into the table, may be secured 

 on both sides of a separate sheet of pasteboard upon 

 hooks and eyes, the fly-hook being fastened into the 

 eye and the loop upon the hook. The latter is 

 attached to a short piece of elastic, and will hold the 

 gut straight and safe. The boards thus prepared 

 are carried in long pockets between the leaves. The 

 book, when filled and ready for use, should not be too 

 large to be carried in the breast pocket, should be 

 composed of stout parchment or ass skin that will 

 resist the effect of dampness, covered with leather 

 or morocco, and closed with a neat clasp. 



The best implements will not make an angler, nor 

 enable him, without skill that can only be obtained 

 by patience and perseverance, to perform his duty 

 creditably at the river-side. Especially must he 

 learn to cast his flies far, lightly, and accurately, for 

 of all the angler's qualifications this art is the most 

 necessary. To do this every writer on fishing has 

 given particular directions, but in reality no plan or 

 formula can be made that is not subject to great 



