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the fish's jaw, will come many feet nearer than it was 

 when the fish rose. 



If it should be the angler's good fortune to fix his hook, 

 the gentleness of his manner, added to the elasticity of his 

 rod and of his line, will save his tackle, and will never 

 force the hook through the hold : besides, though a fish 

 is always considerably agitated \vhen first struck, yet it 

 will invariably be found, that such as are tugged half way 

 out of the water by a violent pull of the rod, are the 

 most alarmed, and, indeed, the most lacerated ; whence 

 they are actuated, both by fear and by pain, to their ut- 

 most exertions ; which frequently succeed, and procure 

 their liberation. 



This I have often witnessed, and formerly used often 

 to be guilty of : experience, and that kind of considera- 

 tion which Time will now and then bring in his train, for 

 the benefit of those he journeys with, have taught me to 

 controul my hand, and thereby to fill my basket. 



The learner may establish an excellent standard with 

 the dace -, for, so long as he pulls them out of the water, 

 he must consider his manner of striking to. be too for- 

 cible ; but when he just causes them to turn over, or to 

 splash, on the very spat where they take the fly he has 

 attained an excellent point of perfection, and may theu 

 let out his line to greater lengths gradually, aud under- 

 take more formidable adventures. 



In due time lie will catch the largest trout*, chul$> 

 &c. with ease j and may, in his turn, possibly obtain a 

 decided superiority over many who ridiculed, or, at least, 

 amused themselves with the awkwardness of his first 



essays I 



I had 



