The Compleat ^Angler 



of the shank, holding them fast in that posture betwixt the fore-finger 

 and thumb of your left hand ; which done, warp them so down as to 

 stand and slope towards the bend of the hook ; and having warped 

 up to the end of the shank, hold the fly fast betwixt the finger and 

 thumb of your left hand, and then take the silk betwixt the finger 

 and thumb of your right hand, and where the warping ends, pinch or 

 nip it with your thumb-nail against your finger, and strip away the 

 remainder of your dubbing from the silk, and then with the bare silk 

 whip it once or twice about, make the wings to stand in due order, 

 fasten, and cut it off"; after which, with the point of a needle, raise 

 up the dubbing gently from the warp, twitch off" the superfluous 

 hairs of your dubbing ; leave the wings of an equal length (your fly 

 will never else swim true), and the work is done. And this way of 

 making a fly (which is certainly the best of all other) was taught me 

 by a kinsman of mine, one Captain Henry Jackson, a near neighbour, 

 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 per- 

 adventure 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. 



Pise. 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 good day of 

 sport before you go. 



VIAT. You will find me, I doubt, too tractable that way; for in 

 good earnest, if business would give me leave, and that it were fit, I 

 could find in my heart to stay with you for ever. 



Pise. I thank you, sir, for that kind expression; and now let me 

 look out my things to make this fly. 



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