FISHING BODS AND FLIES. 17 



brown grouse feather for wing. In autumn, particu- 

 larly if the stream should be clearing after a flood, I 

 have known this fly to be most effective. However, it 

 is no bad plan, if you are a stranger in a neighbour- 

 hood, to get hold of an honest disciple of Izaak 

 Walton, who will give you information, and if he be 

 poor very probably sell you some of the contents of his 

 book. Except for sea-trout fishing, the brilliant and 

 many- coloured macaw-like compositions are generally 

 useless in American inland streams, so let not love of 

 gaudy colouring or the advice of inexperienced per- 

 sons induce you to spend your time and money on 

 such fabrications. 



We will suppose the novice accoutred with all that 

 money and judgment can obtain in the shape of tackle 

 and rod at the same time hoping that his garments 

 are composed of those sober quiet colours that are 

 least observable ; for whether in shooting, deer stalk- 

 ing, or fishing, attention to this is all-important to be 

 on the river's margin, at a spot free from bush, rock, 

 or other impediment. The rod is carefully put toge- 

 ther (I hope it is a spliced one, for I shall have more 

 hope for the beginner's ultimate success from this 

 choice), the reel attached, the line drawn through the 

 rings, and the cast and flies are carefully taken off his 

 hat, round which they have been wrapped (to make 

 them more subservient and less obstreperous on com- 

 mencing work), and made fast to the line. Ere an 

 attempt at the first cast is made, take one word of 

 advice. Englishmen are so horsey in their proclivities 

 that they invariably consider a rod, when first they 

 handle it, an instrument to be treated and used in 

 exactly the same manner as a carriage whip. From 



c 



