FLY-FISHING. 



483 



Now, observe, I will allow the line to run down the current till it is 

 at its full length. Now you will presently see me raise my arms 

 (keeping the rod point upward) as high as I can, to release as much 

 line as possible from the water, and so to enable it to come back with- 

 out exertion. As soon as this is done, the point of the rod is thrown 

 back sideways up stream, at an acute angle to the body, about the 

 level of the bent left arm, pretty much as you would bring back a 

 scythe, only that the elbows are more crooked, and consequently have 

 not the same swing. 



When so brought back, the back of the right hand is down, that of 

 the left up ; this motion drops the fly in the water just by your feet. 

 After a second's rest to let your fly come safe to you and touch the 

 water, and commence to float down stream, the wrists are sharply 

 turned, accompanied by a circular motion of the arm, the left hand 

 grasping the butt is brought in under the right arm, almost into the 

 pit ; so that the right arm lies on the butt of the rod at full stretch, 

 and pointing to the shore opposite you. In this movement the back 

 of the right hand is upward, of the left down. 



I ought to have mentioned that the body is half-faced toward the 

 river, so as to give as full command of the opposite side as possible ; 



