CHAP. VII. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 423 



And note, that these several hackles, or palmer-flies, 

 are some for one water, and one sky, and some for 

 another ; and according to the change of those, we 

 alter their size and colour. And note also. That 

 both in this, and all other months of the year when 

 you do not certainly know what fly is taken ; or can- 

 not see any fish to rise; you are, then, to put on a 

 small hackle, if the water be clear, or a bigger, it- 

 something dark, until you have taken one: and, 

 then, thrusting your finger through his gills, to 

 pull out his gorge, which being opened with your 

 knife, you will then discover what fly is taken, and 

 may fit yourself accordingly *. 



For the MAKING of a Hackle, or Palmer-fly, my 

 father Walton has, already, given you sufficient di- 

 rection t. 



* Ypu may also observe, that the fish never rise eagerly and freely at 

 any sort of flie, until that kind come to the water's side ; for though I 

 have often, at the first coming-in of some flies, (which I judged they 

 loved best,) gotten several of them, yet I could never find, that they did 

 much (if at all) value them, until those sorts of flies began to flock to 

 the river's side, and were to be found on the trees and bushes there 

 in great numbers. V 'enable* , pii. 15. 



When you first come to the river in the morning, With your rod, 

 beat upon the bushes or boughs which hang over the waters. And by 

 their falling upon the waters, you will see what sorts of flies are there in 

 greatest numbers ; if divers sorts and equal in number, try them all, 

 and you will quickly find which they most desire. Sometimes, they 

 change their fly (but it's not very usual) twice or thrice in on^ day : 

 but, ordinarily, they seek not for another sort of flie till they have, 

 for some days, even glutted themselves with a former kind which is, 

 commonly, when those flies die and go out. Venables, pa. 16- 



f But, with Mr. Cotton's good leave, he has not ; nor has any author 

 that I know of; unless we are to take that for a palmer, which Walton 

 has given directions for making, page 177; which I can never do, till 1 

 tee what 1 have never yet seen, viz. Caterpillars with wings. Rejecting , 

 therefore, wings as unnatural and absurd, supposing you would make 

 the plain hackle or palmer, which are terms of the same import, the 

 method of doing it is as follows, viz. 



Hold your hook in a horizontal position, with the shank downwards, 

 and the bent of it between the fore-finger and thumb of your left hand : 

 and having a fine bristle, and other materials, lying by you take 

 half a yard of fine red marking silk well waxed, and, with your right 

 hand, give it four or five turns about the shank of the hook, inclining 

 the turns to the right hand ; when you are near the end of the shank, 

 turn it into such a loop as you are hereafter directed to make for 

 fastening off, and draw it tight, leaving the ends of the silk to hang 

 down at each end of the hook. Having singed the end of your 

 bristle, lay the same along on the inside of the shank qf the hook, 



B B 



