.2OO A Standard of Skill. 



To FISH FINE AND FAR OFF is THE 

 FIRST AND PRINCIPAL RULE FOR 

 TROUT-ANGLING. 



Your line in this case should never be 

 less, nor ever exceed two hairs next the 

 hook, for one (though some I know will 

 pretend to more Art, than their fellows) 

 is indeed too few, the least accident, with 

 the finest hand being sufficient to break 

 it ; but he that cannot kill a Trout of twenty 

 inches long with two, in a River clear of 

 wood and weeds, as this and others of ours 

 are, deserves not the name of an Angler" 



The words I have italicised in the 

 last paragraph give a standard of skill 

 which any angler of the present day might 

 be proud of, even with our advantage of 

 running line and reel. 



Walton acknowledges his indebtedness 

 to Barker for his instructions in fly-mak- 

 ing ; and the much more exact and admir- 

 able directions given by Charles Cotton 

 were, he tells us on page 5 1 of his work, 

 " taught me by a kinsman of mine, one 

 Captain Henry Jackson, a near neighbour, 

 an admirable Flie Angler, by many degrees 

 the best Flie Maker, that ever I yet met 

 with." 



Here, then, is another angler-soldier of 

 Walton's time to whom we owe some- 



