ANGLING REQUISITES, FOR SEASON 1887. 69 



From Dr. Robert Ellis. 



" The Raven Spring, Mitcham, Surrey, 



"June 22nd, 1883. 

 "Sirs, 



" What have I been doing ? Before what idols of stock and 

 stone have I bowed my neck and lowly head ? Why did I not hear of 

 you, or, rather, give ear to you, all this time of angling darkness which 

 has beclouded my common-sense of the fitness (and unfitness) of things 

 piscatorial ? 



" Listen ! I, accompanied by the acknowledged Chief of the Fly 

 (shall I pun in my penitence ?) the Fly-men of North Devon, went a 

 long day's flying (more bad puns) down and up the private streams 

 kindly opened for me by a noble Earl. And I came back almost as I 

 set forth my creel almost empty ; and I, savage of temper, morose, 

 and utterly downcast. It didn't matter, down-cast or up-cast, on the 

 stream no luck at all. 



"Again and again I spoke to the * Champion,' begging him to call 

 me just half the bad names I gave myself. He was too consoling, and 

 said, ' Bime-by sir, bime-by ; you bide a little and then they'll come to 

 your fly.' Hitherto, the trout fled at sight of my tail fly. It was called 

 ' Red Spinner.' I caught the natural insect, and when I compared it 

 with my artificial, my cloud vanished my fly was an utter montrosity, 

 a hash of three or four insects together. 



" Then were my eyes opened, and I minded me of you ; I sent for 

 yours, and it is now before me, as true to nature as art can make. I 

 go forth with it, and some fine day I'll tell you of its victims. 

 " Yours faithfully, 



" ROBERT ELLIS. 



" Messrs. Foster Bros." 



From the Original Proprietor of the Fishing Gazette. 



" Barnsbury, July 2ist, 1877. 

 " Dear Sirs, 



" The flies ordered came duly to hand. Speaking as a practical 

 fly- fisher of twenty years' experience, I must say I have never seen better 



In ordering, please quote List Nos. of articles required. 



