86 ART OF ANGLING. 



"Almost every one is now-a-days a Piscator. 

 The FanaticOy about Easter, goes off as busy 

 as the cockney on his mmter, when bound to 

 Epping. He generally takes a great many 

 things, and kills a few fish. The old angler 

 takes a few things, and kills a great many fish. 

 Some dark, warm, windy, drizzly days, early or 

 late in the season, and particularly when a fine 

 breeze blows from off the banks of a river where 

 no one has begun fishing, the Trout are so easily 

 taken, that a basket full is but little proof of 

 skill. One might then almost train a monkey 

 to catch a Trout. But at other times, and 

 particularly when fish are well fed, is the time 

 to see who is, and who is not, an angler. 



Now for a few very common faults. One who 

 lets his fly lie too long in the water, after drop- 

 ping it, is a better killer of time than of fish. 

 He who tries to land a large fish against weeds 

 and stream, when he can take him down, or 

 allows a fish so much line as to be able to rub 

 his nose against the bottom, may be considered 

 as one in need of a fishing master. Enough, 

 however, of defects. Now, then, to the point. 



ROD. About twelve feet three inches long, 

 and about fourteen ounces in weight. It must 

 not be top-heavy, nor it must not have too much 

 play in the lower part, but the play should be 

 just in proportion to the gradual tapering ; by 



