18 TROUT-FISHING. 



minute thing that comes across the stream ; and 

 you can seldom fail when you fish with the 

 smallest flies. Your book, of course, must con- 

 tain a small hank of gut, a few yards of string, 

 cobbler's wax, a good needle or two, some fine 

 whity-brown thread, a pair of scissors, large-eyed 

 for the fingers, a good knife, a coil or two of 

 different-coloured silk, and a dozen or two of 

 different-sized hooks, which I prefer all of the 

 round bend. As I proceed, you may see how all 

 these may be wanted at the water-side. 



BAG, BASKET, AND BOOTS. Some prefer a 

 bag, as easier carried : but your fish are apt to 

 get heated in it ; and I therefore always pre- 

 fer a moderate-sized basket, made of the com- 

 mon willow wand. If you wade, to me the 

 most delightful thing in the summer-time, put 

 on boots well nailed or tacketed, and worsted 

 stockings or socks ; trousers rather long, they 

 thus prevent in some measure small gravel from 

 getting in if you wear shoes. Carry a dry pair 

 of shoes and stockings ; besides the comfort, 

 cold is thus prevented. I prefer to have 

 very small holes in the upper leathers of my 

 shoes or boots for wading, that the water may 

 run freely out. Prevent as much as possible 



