280 



I beg leave here to point out an absurdity which many 

 persons commit when using the fly; namely, that of using 

 a long line made of various links, which they loop on to a 

 reel-line, made perhaps of silk, or even of flax. 



Now two things must be obvious even to themselves > 

 firstly, that such a line is by no means calculated to throw 

 a fly well ; and secondly, that owing to the great length 

 tinder the loop, when they have reeled up as much as 

 they can (for when they come to the loop it will stop the 

 reel), there is such an excess beyond the ordinary mea- 

 surement of the rod, as to deprive the angler of all power 

 over the fish j which 1 have many times seen to take the 

 advantage of this bungling want of foresight, and very 

 wisely dance die hayes so neatly among weeds, Sec. as 

 to give an opportunity for snapping the line, or for shak- 

 ing out the hook ! 



When I undertake to instruct the novice, I may fairly 

 claim the liberty of insisting on a due attention to the pro- 

 portions as well as to the quality of his tackle : and I 

 must be considered as leaving the whole blame on his 

 own shoulders, whenever he errs, or loses his sport, 

 under the pretext of following my advice j though at the 

 same moment, he consciously negatives every precaution, 

 by a want of consistency. 



Therefore, when I allow him the liberty of using a 

 long line for fly-fishing, and indeed recommend to him 

 (when the waters will admit, boui by their expanse and by 

 the clearness of their banks from all obnoxious impedi- 

 ments), to use as long a line as he can even throw with de- 

 licacy and precision, I am to h-j understood, as founding 

 such permission., or advice, on the safe means he ought 



to 



