BEST'S ART OF ANGLING. 



or point ; tie your three parcels of hair into one 

 knot, and to this, by the hook, hang the weight. 



Lastly, take a common bottle-cork, and into 

 the sides, at equal distances, cut three grooves ; 

 and placing it so as to receive each division of 

 hairs, begin to twist. You will then find the links 

 twist with great evenness at the lead : as it grows 

 tighter, shift the cork a little upwards, and when 

 the whole is sufficiently twisted, take out the cork, 

 and tie the links into a knot ; and so proceed till 

 you have twisted links sufficient for your line, ob- 

 serving to lessen the number of hairs in each link, 

 in such proportion that the line may be taper. 



Never strain your hairs before they are made 

 into a line, if you do they will shrink when used. 



Your links thus prepared, tie them together into 

 a water-knot ; then cut off the short ends, about 

 a straw's breadth from the knot, and then whip 

 some waxed silk about the knots, which is much 

 better than inclosing them with wax. 



Never, either at ground or fly angling, fix any 

 hooks to a line that consists of more than three or 

 four links at the most; but always make a small 

 loop at the top and bottom of your line : the use of 

 the one is to fasten it to your rod, and of the other 

 to aifix or remove your armed hooks. The line 

 should always be leaded according to the rapidity 

 or quietness of the river you angle in ; therefore, 

 as nearly as you can guess, always lead it in such 

 manner as will sink the bait to the bottom, and 

 permit its motion, without any violent jogging on 

 the ground. Carry the top of your rod even with 

 your hand, beginning at the head of the stream, 

 and letting the bait run downwards, as far as the 

 rod and line will permit, the lead dragging and 

 rolling on the ground. No more of the line must 



