196 THE PKACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



line, and is commendable, not so much on account of its being more easily 

 managed than the other, but chiefly because of the advantage it gives 

 the thrower when under a bank or in advance of scrubby ground. . . . 

 But there is no reason why, under favourable circumstances, right- 

 shoulder casting should not be resorted to. I think, for my own part, 

 that the fly thrown from the shoulder generally alights on the stream's 

 surface with greater lightness, and may be directed with more accuracy 

 towards the desired spot." 



I indicated, some time ago, that there were more ways than one of 

 casting lines, and that the reader may not lack the information necessary 

 to place him completely au fait with the subject, I extract from the 

 "Rod and Line," a description of a third style, which is named the 

 "Welsh throw." "The fly," says the author, " is brought as near you 

 as the length of line will permit by drawing the rod almost perpen- 

 dicularly, or inclining a trifle behind you either on the right hand or the 

 left, immediately delivering the line before, while the fly and several 

 yards of line remain on the water. The line in this case sweeps along 

 the water, and the fly reaches the surface last. To accomplish this 

 throw the rod must be well apportioned to the line. If the rod be 

 powerful, so must be the line. If the rod be lighter, the line must be 

 proportionately so, else to succeed is impossible ; and without a line 

 made for the purpose no one can accomplish the throw." I confess I 

 do not quite understand this throw, nor see its advantages. It seems 

 to ine to be an exceedingly difficult and unsatisfactory one to make, but 

 as I have never seen it made, I am quite at a loss to .correct its 

 faults. Mr. Francis gives a long scientific explanation, and a diagram 

 expository of its principles. I recommend the novice, however, to eschew 

 it until he has learned the legitimate and successful casts from the 

 right and left shoulder. 



There is yet another cast to be described, that is the " under cast." 

 "In making these the rod is held forward horizontally, the hands and 

 arms projecting in a line with the termination of the ribs. If the right 

 hand is first, the rod is brought in a horizontal sweep to that side, and 

 then urged sharply in an opposite direction." Casting in this way is 

 not a very graceful or elegant proceeding, and resembles somewhat the 

 childish throw to make " ducks and drakes." The winch line forms the 

 "duck," and the gut casting-line the "drake." "Ephemera" strongly 

 recommends this underhand casting. I certainly prefer it to the Welsh, 

 or Spey, " slobbering " sort of cast. 



All of these methods, however, are useful according to circumstances. 

 Let no angler arbitrarily fix himself to a code of rules by which he 

 will go, neither swerving to the right hand nor to the left. Each may 



