IDEAS ON FLY-FISHING. 249 



known this fly to be most effective. However, it is 

 no bad plan if you are a stranger in a neighborhood, 

 to get hold of a poor honest disciple of Izaak Walton, 

 who will give you information, and very probably sell 

 you some of the contents of his book. However, be- 

 ware that he does not palm off upon you the debris 

 of his collection. Except for sea-trout fishing, the bril- 

 liant and many-colored macaw-like compositions are 

 totally useless in our inland streams, so let not love of 

 gaudy coloring or the advice of inexperienced persons 

 induce you to spend your time and money on such 

 fabrications. 



We will suppose the novice accoutered with all 

 that money and judgment can obtain in the shape of 

 tackle and rod, at the same time hoping that his gar- 

 ments are composed of those sober quiet colors that 

 are least observable ; for whether in shooting, deer- 

 stalking, or fishing, attention to this is all important ; 

 that he wears naught that is not useful, and not like 

 the Laocoon, as I once observed a young gentleman, 

 BO covered was he with straps and bright-colored 

 strings suspending lunch-box, and flasks, and innumer- 

 able other contrivances, the very weight of which 

 must have impeded his movements and fagged him 



to death long ere the day was over. He is on the 

 11* 



