f4 THE ART OF FISHING. 



rippled stream all these contribute to give plea- 

 sure to this fascinating amusement ; but on the 

 contrary, you destroy at once all the satisfac- 

 tion and delight associated with the graceful art 

 of fly-fishing, hardening your heart to behold the 

 agonizing flutter of the poor harmless insect, and 

 become neither more nor less than a heartless 

 common poacher. You not unoften mar your suc- 

 cess in taking fish : should you catch them, you do 

 not enjoy half the satisfaction in possessing them. 

 Away then with the live fly, and leave him to en- 

 joy his existence in the sunny ray. One day's exist- 

 ence is frequently his utmost limit: let him enjoy 

 his short-lived nature, and cut him not off in the 

 meridian sunshine of his day ; open your drake 

 basket and let him escape; and as he enjoys his 

 liberty, ascending with majestic motion in the 

 glorious sunlight, your relenting heart will expe- 

 rience an inward joy as you view his heavenward 

 flight far greater than having made him the vic- 

 tim of your cruelty for securing your prey. 



With a few observations on the best method of 

 casting your line, I shall hasten to conclude. 



Should you be fly-fishing on a windy day, you 

 should be the more careful in noticing every 

 direction I am about to give, or you will crack 

 off many a fly, entangle your line in the trees and 



