12 CHATS ON ANGLING. 



matches, do not forget before you go out to mount some sedges or 

 large red quills upon fairly stout gut points and put them in your cap. 

 They will come in most usefully, and save a strain upon your temper. 



The use of deodorised mineral oil for anointing your flies has been 

 greatly decried of late. I can only say that it is a great assistance, 

 especially on a pouring wet day, and I should be sorry to be without 

 it. I do not like, however, the inconvenient bottle generally carried for 

 this purpose. I use a common metal matchbox, in which I have placed 

 a piece of spungeo-piline, on which I have poured a few drops of the 

 oil. The hackles of the fly can be pressed against this, and so anointed 

 with the greatest ease. Fish do not appear to mind the appearance of 

 the oil that, of course, appears to float round your fly ; and, as they 

 do not mind and it enables you better to keep your fly floating and 

 cocked under adverse conditions, why not use it ? 



As to the flies to be used, as I have said in another chapter, the 

 fewer the better. 



