THROWING THE FLY. Ill 



turing into the water. I had rather that he 

 should commence with a short reel and gut, or 

 foot-line, and a hook broken off at the bend, if 

 his stock of patience is in a state of insolvency 

 unable to meet all due demands : whereby he sees 

 at once what he is about, and avoids at the same 

 time the provoking misfortunes which a perfect 

 hook would entail upon him by its adhesive pro- 

 pensities, during his pupilage. It is quite right 

 that he should practise upon the water, so as to 

 witness the effct of not throwing lightly ; and Mr. 

 Ronalds, in his Fly-Fisher's Entomology, is only 

 correct in recommending practice " ashore," 

 when the object is to achieve throwing among 

 trees, an art quite distinct from throwing on the 

 water ; though even this should ultimately be 

 practised (with a broken hook in the first instance), 

 at the river-side. The first named authors,J 

 seem, too, to think it an advantage to have the 

 line dry for throwing, and advise that the water 

 should be " whisked out of it and the fly," by 

 quick repetition of casting. If in the sunshine 

 you like to " whisk" your line about for five 

 minutes, you may achieve what they think so 

 desirable ; and which, to tell you the truth, I 

 regard as useless. My own practice, and that of 

 many most skilful anglers, is, occasionally to wet 



* Sbipley and Fitzgibbon p. 78. 



