I2O THE COMPLETE ANGLER. C^ART I. 



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-colored crewel, or willowish color ; dark- 

 ening 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 color, 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-color 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 Grasshop- 

 per ; 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 tell you, that the fishing with a natural fly 



