134 LIN ES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



cut of jacket. For years a small paragraph at the 

 bottom of one of the Field columns advertised a certain 

 fly-fishing jacket, and I smiled at the notion that such 

 an article could be anything different from the ordinary 

 shooting coat or Norfolk jacket. It was said to have 

 gusset sleeves, a fastening for the wrist, plenty of good 

 pockets for fly books, and it would not work up round 

 the neck in casting. Eventually I became the owner 

 and wearer of one, and can say that in fly-fishing or 

 spinning I never previously knew what real comfort in 

 casting was. 



Wading stockings and brogues are always worth 

 using, either for fly-fishing, even if you do not require 

 to wade, or for winter angling amongst the coarse fish. 

 They keep you dry, and you can kneel on the grass or 

 potter about amongst wet osiers, nettles, and rushes 

 with impunity. The best hat for me has been one with 

 a moderately soft and wide brim that may be turned 

 down like a roof, to shoot off the rain behind, or to 

 shelter the eyes from the sun in front. The felt fly- 

 band is a very serviceable affair, but, to avoid taking 

 off the hat, the user of eyed hooks may have a band of 

 felt stitched round the upper part of the left arm. 

 Above all, let the angler wear the best woollen under- 

 clothing, and in winter plenty of it. 



Finally, brethren, and in conclusion, let me say that 

 when fishing in light marching order one has to dispense 

 with many odds and ends that are in themselves fisher- 

 man's comforts, though not precisely essentials. The 

 " priest " wherewith to knock your fish on the head, 

 the machine for weighing him on the spot, the spare 

 boxes of tackle, the second rod, or joints, may be done 

 without. If you bring yourself to study how little 

 you require for a day's outing, it is astonishing how 

 much you will by and by leave behind. We are prone, 



