ANGLING IMPROVED. 11 



afterwards, but much less, as the orange-fly ; and when 

 they thus flock to the river, then is the best season 

 to angle with that fly. And that thou may the better find 

 what fly they covet most at that instant, do thus : 



When you come first to the river in the morning, 

 with your rod beat upon the bushes or boughs which 

 hang over the water, and by their falling upon the 

 water you will see what sorts of flies are there in great- 

 est numbers; if divers sorts, and equal in number, try 

 them all, and you will quickly find which they most de- 

 sire. Sometimes they change their fly; though not very 

 usual, twice or thrice in one day ; but ordinarily they 

 do not seek another sort of fly till they have for some 

 days even glutted themselves with a former kind, which 

 is commonly when those flies die and go out. Directly 

 contrary to our London gallants, who must have the 

 first of every thing, when hardly to be got, but scorn 

 the same when kindly ripe, healthful, common, and 

 cheap ; but the fish despise the first, and covet when 

 plenty, and when that sort grow old and decay, and 

 another cometh in plentifully, then they change ; as if 

 nature taught them, that every thing is best in its own 

 proper season, and not so desirable when not kindly 

 ripe, or when through long continuance it begins to lose 

 its native worth and goodness. 



I shall add a few cautions and directions in the use 

 of the natural fly, and then proceed : 



1. When you angle for Chevin, Roach, or Dace, 

 with the fly, you must not move your fly swiftly; when 

 you see the fish coming towards it, but rather after one 



