ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 115 



sorts of fish will sometimes take the Hie, much better 

 at the top of the water, and at another time much 

 better a little under the superficies of the water, and in 

 this your observation must be your constant and daily 

 instructor (for if they will not rise to the top, try them 

 under) it not being possible (in my opinion) to give 

 any certain rule in this particular. 



The following are plainly the observations of a 

 practical fisherman : 



You may also observe (which my own experience 

 taught me) that the fish never rise eagerly and freely 

 at any sort of flie, untill that kind come to the waters 

 side. . . . Sometimes they change their flie (but its 

 not very usual) twice or thrice in one day ; but 

 ordinarily they seek not for another sort of flie, till 

 they have for some dayes 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. 



The following extracts are from the chapter "Of 

 the Artificial Flie " : 



But here I must premise, that it is much better to 

 learn how to make a flie by sight than by any Paper- 

 direction can possibly be expressed, in regards the 

 Terms of Art do in most parts of England differ, and 

 also several sorts of flies are called by different 

 names ; some call the flie bred of the water Cricket 

 or Creeper a May-flic, and some a Stone-flic ; some 

 call the Cadbait flie a May, and some call a short fly 

 of a sad golden green color, with short brown wings, a 

 May-flic : and I see no reason but all flies bred in May, 

 are properly enough called May-flies. Therefore 



