260 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART II. 



ten, or twelve pieces, so neatly pieced, and tied together with 

 fine thread below, and silk above, as to make it taper, like a 

 switch, and to ply with a true bent to your hand. And these, 

 too, are light, being made of fir-wood for two or three lengths 

 nearest to the hand, and of other wood nearer to the top ; that 

 a man might very easily manage the longest of them that ever 

 I saw, with one hand. And these, when you have given over 

 Angling for a season, being taken to pieces, and laid up in 

 some dry place, may afterwards be set together again in their 

 former postures, and will be as straight, sound, and good as 

 the first hour they were made ; and being laid in oil and color, 

 according to your Master Walton's direction, will last many 

 years. 



The length of your line, to a man that knows how to handle 

 his rod, and to cast it, is no manner of encumbrance, except- 

 ing in woody places and in landing of a fish, which every one 

 that can afford to angle for pleasure has somebody to do for 

 him. And the length of line is a mighty advantage to the 

 fishing at distance ; and to fish, fine and far off, is the first and 

 principal rule for Trout-Angling. 



Your line in this case should never be less, nor ever exceed 

 two hairs next to the hook ; for one (though some I know will 

 pretend to more art than their fellows) is indeed too few, the 

 least accident, with the finest hand, being sufficient to break 

 it ; but he that cannot kill a Trout of twenty inches long with 

 two, in a river clear of wood and weeds, as this and some other 

 of ours are, deserves not the name of an Angler. 



Now to have your whole line as it ought to be, two of the 

 first lengths nearest the hook should be of two hairs apiece ; 

 the next three lengths above them of three; the next three 

 above them of four ; and so of five, and six, and seven, to the 

 very top : by which means your rod and tackle will, in a man- 

 ner, be taper from your very hand to your hook ; your line 

 will fall much better and straighter, and cast your fly to any 

 certajri place to which the hand and eye shall direct it, witb 



