THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 67 



best of all other, was taught me by a kinsman of mine, one Cap- 

 tain Henry Jackson, a near neighbor, an admirable fly-angler, 

 by many degrees the best fly-maker that ever I yet met with. 

 And now that I have told you how a fly is to be made, you shall 

 presently see me make one, with which you may peradveniure 

 take a trout this morning, notwithstanding the unlikeliness of the 

 day ; for it is now nine of the clock, and fish will begin to rise, 

 if they will rise to-day : I will walk along by you, and look on ; 

 and after dinner I will proceed in my lecture of fly-fishing. 



ViAT. I confess I long to be at the river : and yet I could sit 

 here all day to hear you ; but some of the one, and some of the 

 other, will do well : and I have a mighty ambition to take a trout 

 in your river Dove. 



Pisc. I warrant you shall : I would not for more than I will 

 speak of but you should, seeing I have so extolled my river to 

 you : nay, I will keep you here a month, but you shall have one 

 day of sport before you go. 



shoe-maker's wax. Take, then, the hook in your left hand, the shank 

 pointing towards the right ; having made a few turns of the silk round the 

 hook, lay on the gut, and bind it fast, winding it towards your left hand ; 

 then lay on the dubbing, the hackle and gilt (if needed), taking a separate 

 turn round each to fasten their ends. You have now the hook fastened to 

 the gut, and the materials for a fly fastened to the tail end of the fly that 

 is to be, but not yet wound ; then carefully wind the worsted (or mo- 

 hair, which is better, as the worsted becomes swollen and heavy with 

 wet), and fasten it at the head of the fly ; wind the gilt and fasten it in the 

 same way ; wind the hackle between the turns of the gilt, and fasten it by 

 taking a turn of the silk about the hook. Then take the feathers designed 

 for the wings, and put on the left first, making a turn with the silk to 

 hold it on ; put on the right wing in the same way. Having made a turn 

 or two to hold it, carefully bring the left wing forward, and pass the silk 

 around the hook behind and under the wing ; do the same with the right 

 wing. Then nicely tie the fly at the head. Lay the silk across the head 

 of the fly, leaving several inches slack, and, taking up the slack, wind it 

 twice around the head of the fly, pulling the gut through so as to draw the 

 silk up ; then, holding the end of the silk, draw up the slack tight, and 

 the fly is tied. Trim it, and the fly is ready for use." My friend adds : 

 " It is doubtful if one can dress a fly properly from written directions, 

 but when once the process has been seen, it will not be easily forgot- 

 ten." This advantage Viator enjoyed, as we learn from the next chaoter. — 

 Am. Ed. 



