THE COMPLETE ANGLER. Ill 



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-colour and black crewel, with a 

 brown wing ; or a fly made with a Peacock's feather is excel- 

 lent 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 Grasshopper. 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 

 is excellent, and affords much pleasure. They may be found 

 thus :. the May-fly, usually in and about that month, near to the 

 river side, especially against rain : the Oak-fly, on the butt or 

 body of an oak or ash, from the beginning of May to the end of 

 August ; it is a brownish fly and easy to be so found, and stands 

 usually with his head downward, that is to say, towards the 

 root of the tree : f the small Black -fly, or Hawthorn fly, is to 

 be had on any Hawthorn bush after the leaves be come forth. 

 With these and a short line, (as I shewed to angle for a Chub,) 



* A brother of the angle must always be sped 

 With three blark Palmers, and also two red; 

 And all made with hackles. In a cloudy day, 

 Or in windy weather, angle you may. 



But morning and evening, if the day be bright ; 

 And the chief point of all is to keep out of sight. 

 " In the month of May, none but the May-fly, 

 For every month, one," is a pitiful lie. 



The black Hawthorn-fly must be very small ; 

 And the sandy hog's-hair is, sure, best of all 

 (For the mallard-wing May-fly, and peacock's train, 

 Will look like the Flesh-fly) to kill Trout amain. 



The Oak-fly is good, if it have a brown wing, 



So is the Grasshopper, that in July doth sing-; 



With a gre^n body make him, on a middle sized hook, 



But when you have catch 'd fish, then play the good cook. 



Once more, my good brother, I 'il speak in thy ear ; 

 Hog's, red cow's, and bear's wool, to float best appear; 

 And so doth your fur, if rightly it fall ; 

 But always remember, Make two, and make all. 



A specimen ofM.R BARKER'S poetry. 



t The Oak-fly is known also by the names of the Ash-fly and the Wood- 

 cock-fly and in Shropshire it is called the Cannon, or Downhill fly. 



