158 OBSERVATIONS ON 



These are a few of the playful rules and regula- 

 tions which Sheridan drew up on the meeting of a 

 party of his friends at Leckford, in commemoration 

 of that father of all honest anglers, Izaak Walton. 

 We must regret that there is no further account of 

 the proceedings which took place on so interesting 

 an occasion, or of the sport they had in capturing 

 the trout of the Test. As some of the party how- 

 rvtT have left behind them the character of being 

 most expert fly-fishers, it is probable that the jovial 

 assembly were not left without a due supply of 

 fish. 



Having given my readers such anecdotes con- 

 nected with the Test as I have been able to collect, 

 it i- time to mention what I consider the most 

 approved method of taking the trout, with which it 

 abounds in all places where they are preserved. 



I must premise that I am not one of those who 

 think that a great variety of flies are necessary in 

 tilling for trout either in the Test, or in any other 

 river. I am at the same time aware that many 

 fly-fishers, and good ones too, are prepared with 

 every description of fly, that in case they do not 

 succeed with one sort, they may with another. As 

 far as my experience goes, I am of opinion that the 

 angler gains but little by having such a multiplicity 

 of flies. Much time is lost in putting them on and 

 in taking them off his line, and after all, perhaps, 

 he has met with no success. I would recommend 



