44 APPENDIX. 



NUMBER VI. 



Containing additional RULES and CAUTIONS. 



I. WHEN you Lave Looked a fish, never suffer him 

 to run out with the line : but keep your rod bent> and 

 as near perpendicular as you can ; by this method, the 

 top plies to every pull he makes, and you prevent the 

 straining of your line : for the same reason, 



II. Never raise a large fish out of the water by tak- 

 ing the hair to which your hook is fastened, or indeed 

 any part of the line, into your hand : but either put a 

 landing-net under him, or for want of that, your hat : 

 you may indeed in fly-fishing, lay hold of your line 

 to draw a fish to you ; but this must be done with cau- 

 tion. 



III. Your silk for whipping hooks and other fine 

 work, must be very small : use it double : and wax it 

 and, indeed, any other kind of binding with shoe* 

 maker's wax, which of all wax is the toughest, and 

 holds best ; if your wax is too stiff, temper it with 

 tallow. 



IV. If for strong fishing, you use grass which when 

 you can get it fine, is to be preferred to gut remember 

 always to soak it, about an hour, in water before you lisa 

 it : this will make it tough, and prevent its kinking. 



V. Whenever you begin fishing, wet the ends of the 

 joints of your rod ; which, as it makes them swell, will 

 prevent their loosening. And, 



VI. If you happen with rain or otherwise to wet 

 your rod, so that you cannot pull the joints asunder, 

 turn the ferule, a few times, round in the flame of a 

 candle ; and they will easily separate. 



VII. Before you fix the loop of bristle to your hook, 

 in order to make a fly, to prevent its drawing, be sure 

 to singe the ends of it in the flame of a candle ; do the 

 same by the hair, to which at any time you whip a 

 hook. 



