The Compleat ^Angler 



turn short. You must fish further off, if you intend to have any 

 sport here ; this is no New River, let me tell you. That was a good 

 trout, believe me : did you touch him ? 



VIAT. No, I would I had, we would not have parted so. Look 

 you, there was another ; this is an excellent fly. 



Pise. That fly I am sure would kill fish, if the day were right ; 

 but they only chew at it, I see, and will not take it. Come, sir, let 

 us return back to the fishing-house ; this still water, I see, will not 

 do our business to-day : you shall now, if you please, make a fly 

 yourself, and try what you can do in the streams with that ; and I 

 know a trout taken with a fly of your own making will please you 

 better than twenty with one of mine. Give me that bag again, 

 sirrah ; look you, sir, there is a hook, towght, silk, and a feather for 

 the wings ; be doing with those, and I will look you out a dubbing 

 that I think will do. 



VIAT. This is a very little hook. 



Pise. That may serve to inform you that it is for a very little 

 fly, and you must make your wings accordingly ; for as the case 

 stands, it must be a little fly, and a very little one too, that must do 

 your business. Well said ! believe me, you shift your fingers very 

 handsomely ; I doubt I have taken upon me to teach my master. 

 So here's your dubbing now. 



VIAT. This dubbing is very black. 



Pise. It appears so in hand ; but step to the door and hold it up 

 betwixt your eye and the sun, and it will appear a shining red ; let 

 me tell you, never a man in England can discern the true colour of 

 a dubbing any way but that, and therefore chuse always to make 

 your flies on such a bright sunshine day as this, which also you may 

 the better do, because it is worth nothing to fish in : here, put it on, 

 and be sure to make the body of your fly as slender as you can. 

 Very good ! upon my word you have made a marvellous handsome 

 fly. 



VIAT. I am very glad to hear it ; 'tis the first that ever I made of 

 this kind in my life. 



Pise. Away, away ! you are a doctor at it ; but I will not com- 

 mend you too much, lest I make you proud. Come, put it on, and 



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