272 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



of experiment, a five-foot alligator. The 'gator was 

 taken with a "fly" tied on a shark-hook, the hackled 

 body being a squirrel's tail, with wings of a small sea- 

 gull. The rod, used on that occasion only, was alight 

 pine sprit (belonging to the sail of a small boat), fifteen 

 feet in length, an inch and a half in diameter at the 

 centre and tapering to an inch at each end. 



Thus it will be seen that the opportunities and re- 

 sources for fly-fishing are nearly as great as for bait- 

 fishing, and that it only remains for the angler to take 

 advantage of them, study the habits of the fishes, at- 

 tain the necessary skill in casting, and practice due 

 caution in fishing. 



