120 THROWING THE FLY. 



boast of being able to throw thirty yards or more 

 of line. 



Theoph. The next man you hearthus boasting, 

 ask him, did he ever measure it ! and you'll 

 surely find him " reckoning without his host.'* 

 There are some who can do it, certainly; but 

 they are as one in a thousand. I know but one 

 man, and that is my ally down here, Tom P. ; 

 whom I have before mentioned to you. Exclu- 

 sive of him (pray do not think I name it for 

 boasting sake, for I know, " self-praise is boasting, 

 and begets the envy of them that hear it") I 

 yield in this respect to no man, whom I have had 

 the pleasure of meeting any where ; by a yard or 

 two I can out-reach them, Tom P. excepted ; and 

 although I speak of my long salmon-rod, eighteen 

 feet, I doubt whether I can exceed twenty-seven 

 or twenty-eight yards, measured from the reel, 

 under the most favourable circumstances. Tom 

 P. has thrown twenty-seven measured yards from 

 the top of his rod, which being twenty feet long, 

 according to my plan of reckoning, namely, from 

 the reel, gives thirty-three yards two feet. Twenty- 

 two yard may, therefore, be regarded as a long 

 throw, even for an eighteen foot rod, and all above 

 that, " is extra superfine." 



Herb. -But, I recollect that Tom P. has a 

 longer rod ; which, I suppose, gives him some 

 advantage. 



