THE FLY-BOOK. 93 



a perfect whole, and that the most nicely regu- 

 lated affair in every other respect may be com- 

 pletely marred by a defect in one of its most 

 insignificant members. Proceed we, then, to 



The Fly Book, which should be of a rather large 

 size (say six inches by four) and well furnished 

 with pockets and loops for scissors, a knife, and 

 so forth. It should number at least eight or ten 

 leaves, made of double parchment, with pieces 

 of cork at the corners to prevent them from 

 pressing too closely together ; and the tongues on 

 which to coil the flies should be large and stiff. 

 The price of such an article, in a black leather 

 case, is about five shillings; in russia, which is 

 more durable, it is of course higher. 



The Landing Net is recommended only when 

 the banks of the river are high and the fish large. 

 An angler whose piscatory reputation is fully 

 established, who has taken his degree of M.A.,* 



* Master of Angling "an honour to which no one is 

 admitted before he has performed the qualifying act of 

 hooking and landing, without assistance, a salmon not less 

 than fourteen pounds weight ; after which he ought, on 

 producing his testimonium, to have the entre of every 

 angling club throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Should 

 there be no salmon-fishing in the waters where he exer- 

 cises his skill, then a jack of the same weight, also taken 

 without assistance, or a stone and a half of trout, half a 



