302 



Having now detailed the several classes, thefbrms> 

 and the construction of artificial flies in general, I must 

 inform the learner, that he cannot do better than preserve 

 such feathers as chance may throw in his way, when they 

 appear veil calculated for making flies. 



He should strip away the down, and one side of the 

 plumage, as shewn in Fig. 4, Plate V. ; so that they 

 may occupy but little space in his fly-fishing pocket- 

 book. 



Each kind of feather should be superscribed, to indi- 

 cate what bird, and ii'hat part, it \vas taken from j so 

 that if the angler should find it a killing feather, he might 

 know how to supply himself with more. 



Although I have described those feathers, and arrange- 

 ments, which are most generally useful, it is not to be 

 supposed that those only will answer his purpose : on 

 the contrary, in some waters the fishes will take only the 

 local insects, which the angler must catch, and endeavour 

 to imitate. 



By following the foregoing method, and toy keepings 

 jfew of the necessary articles always at hand, such as mo- 

 hair, and. silks of various colours, trimmed feathers, &e. 

 he will never be at a loss j but will speedily be distin- 

 guished as a clever angler ! 



I hold the common practice of swelling a volume, by 

 the insertion of what is called " a description of the seve- 

 ral Waters passing through the various counties," to be 

 completely unnecessary. 1 have seen many gentlemea 

 grievously disappointed when they have been informed,, 

 and indeed convinced, on a. r, n at a stream of which 

 the highest character was ^iven, in- print, to find, 'that 

 ; even. 



