CHAP. v. THE SECOND DAY. 205 



line flying before you up or down the river, as the wind serves, and 

 to angle as near as you can to the bank of the same side whereon 

 you stand, though where you see a fish rise near you you may 

 guide your quick fly over him, whether in the middle, or on 

 the contrary side; and if you are pretty well out of sight, 

 either by kneeling or the interposition of a bank or bush, you 

 may almost be sure to raise, arid take him too, if it be presently 

 done; the fish will, otherwise, peradventure be removed to some 

 other place, if it be in the still deeps, where he is always in 

 motion, and roving up and down to look for prey, though, in a 

 stream, you may always almost, especially if there be a good 

 stone near, find him in the same place. Your line ought in this 

 case to be three good hairs next the hook, both by reason you are 

 in this kind of angling to expect the biggest fish, and also that 

 wanting length to give him line after he is struck, you must be 

 forced to tug for it; to which I will also add that not an inch of 

 your line being to be suffered to touch the water in dibbing, it 

 may be allowed to be the stronger. I should now give you a 

 description of those flies, their shape and colour, and then give 

 you an account of their breeding, and withal show you how to 

 keep and use them; but shall defer them to their proper place 

 and season. 



VIAT. In earnest, sir, you discourse very rationally of this 

 affair, and I am glad to find myself mistaken in you ; for in 

 truth I did not expect so much from you. 



PiSC. Nay, sir, I can tell you a great deal more than this, and 

 will conceal nothing from you. But I must now come to the 

 second way of angling at the top, which is with an artificial fly, 

 which also I will show you how to make before I have done, but 

 first shall acquaint you, that with this you are to angle with a 

 line longer by a yard and a half, or sometimes two yards, than 

 your rod ; and with both this and the other, in a still day in the 

 streams, in a breeze that curls the water in the still deeps, where 

 (excepting in May and June, that the best trouts will lie in 

 shallow streams to watch for prey, and even then too) you are 

 like to hit the best fish. 



For the length of your rod, you are always to be governed by 



