CHAP. v. THE FOURTH DAY. 87 



But I promised to tell you more of the fly-fishing for a trout, 

 which I may have time enough to do, for you see it rains May- 

 butter. First, for a May-fly, you may make his body with 

 greenish-coloured crewel or willowish colour, darkening it in 

 most places with waxed silk, or ribbed with black hair, or some 

 of them ribbed with silver thread ; and such wings for the 

 colour as you see the fly to have at that season, nay, at that 

 very day on the water. Or you may make the oak-fly with an 

 orange tawny, and black ground, and the brown of a mallard's 

 feather for the wings ; and you are to know, that these two are 

 most excellent flies, that is, the May-fly and the oak-fly. And 

 let me again tell you that you keep as far from the water as you 

 can possibly, whether you fish with a fly or worm, and fish down 

 the stream : and when you fish with a fly, if it be possible, let 

 no part of your line touch the water, but your fly only ; and 

 be still moving your fly upon the water, or casting it into the 

 water, you yourself being also always moving down the stream. 



Mr. Barker commends several sorts of the palmer-flies, not 

 only those ribbed with silver and gold, but others that have their 

 bodies all made of black, or some with red, and a red hackle ; 

 you may also make the hawthorn-fly, which is all black, and not 

 big, but very small, the smaller the better; or the oak-fly, 

 the body of which is orange colour and black crewel, with a 

 brown wing ; or a fly made with a peacock's feather is excellent 

 in a bright day. You must be sure you want not in your 

 magazine-bag the peacock's feather, and grounds of such wool 

 and crewel as will make the grasshopper ; and note, that usually 

 the smallest flies are the best; and note also, that the light 

 fly does usually make most sport in a dark day, and the darkest 

 and least fly in a bright or clear day; and lastly, note, that you 

 are to repair upon any occasion to your magazine-bag, and upon 

 any occasion vary and make them lighter or sadder, according 

 to your fancy, or the day. 



And now I shall tellyou that the fishing with a natural fly is 

 excellent, and affords much pleasure. They may be found thus : 

 the May-fly, usually in and about that month, near to the river- 

 side, especially against rain : the oak-fly, on the butt or body of 



