.CHAP. V. THE COMPLETE ANGLER, 403 



place, if it be in the still deeps, where he is always in 

 motion, and roving up and down to look for prey : 

 though, in a stream, you may always almost, esper 

 cially if there be a good stone near, find him in the 

 same place. Your LINE ought, in this case, to be 

 three good hairs next the hook ; both by reason you 

 are, in this kind of angling, to expect the biggest 

 fish, and also that, wanting length to give him line 

 after he is struck, you must be forced to tug for it : 

 to which I will also add, that not an inch of your line 

 being to be suffered to touch the water in dibbing, it 

 may be allowed to be the stronger. I should [might] 

 now give you a description of those flies, their shape 

 and colour; and, then, give you an account of their 

 breeding ; and, withal, shew you how to keep and use 

 them : but shall defer them to their proper place and 

 season. 



Vial. In earnest, Sir, you discourse very ration- 

 ally of this affair; and I am glad to find myself mistaken 

 in you, for, in plain truth, I did not expect so much 

 from you. 



Pise. Nay, Sir, I can tell you a great deal more 

 than this : and will conceal nothing from you. But I 

 must now to the second way of Angling-at-the-top ; 

 which is with an ARTIFICIAL FLY, which also I will 

 shew you how to make before I have done. But, first, 

 shall acquaint you, That, with this, you are to 

 angle with a line longer by a yard and a half, or 

 sometimes two yards than your rod : And, with 

 both this and the other [i. e. whether you use the arti- 

 ficial or natural fly, remember to angle,] in a still day^ 

 in the streams ; in a breeze that curls the zoater, in the 

 still deeps where, (excepting in May and Jane, that 

 the best Trouts will lie in shallow streams to watch for 

 prey : and even then, too,) you are like to hit the best 

 fish*. 



For the length of your ROD : You are always to be 

 governed by the breadth of the river you shall chuse to 



* For Fishing with two or mortfiet : see note on pa, 405. 



