THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 273 



staring out, (for we sometimes barb the hackle -feather short all 

 over, sometimes barb it only a little, and sometimes barb it 

 close underneath,) leaving the whole length of the feather on 

 the top or back of the fly, which makes it swim better, and, 

 as occasion serves, kills very great fish. 



5. We make use, also, in this month, of another great hackle, 

 the body black, and ribbed over with gold twist, and a red 

 feather over all ; which also does great execution.* 



6. Also a great dun, made with dun bear's hair, and the 

 wings of the gray feather of a mallard near unto his tail ; which 

 is absolutely the best fly can be thrown upon a river this month, 

 and with which an angler shall have admirable sport. 



7. We have also this month the great blue dun, the dubbing 

 of the bottom of bear's hair next to the roots, mixed with a 

 little blue camlet ; the wings, of the dark gray feather of a 

 mallard. 



8. We have also this month a dark brown, the dubbing of 

 a brown hair off the flank of a brended cow ; and the wings 

 of the gray drake's feather. 



And note, that these several hackles, or palmer-flies, are 

 some for one w r ater and one sky, and some for another : and 

 according to the change of those, we alter their size and colour. 

 And note also that, both in this and all other months of the 

 year, when you do not certainly know what fly is taken, or 

 cannot see any fish to rise, you are then to put on a small 

 hackle, if the water be clear, or a bigger, if something dark, 

 until you have taken one ; and, then thrusting your finger 

 through his gills, to pull out his gorge, which, being opened 

 with your knife, you will then discover what fly is taken, and 

 may fit yourself accordingly. f 



* Gold twist hackle ; the same dubbing, warping, and hackle : with gold 

 twist. 



These hackles are taken chiefly from nine to eleven in the morning, and 

 from one to three in the afternoon. They will do for any month in the 

 year, and upon any water. 



t You may also observe, that the fish never rise eagerly and freely at 

 any sort of fly, until that kind come to the water's side ; for though I have 

 often, at the first coming in of some flies, (which I judged they loved best,) 

 gotten several of them, yet I could never find that they did much, if at all, 

 value them, until those sorts of flies began to flock to the river's side, 

 and were to be found on the trees and bushes there in great numbers. 

 y enables, p. 15. 



When you first come to the river in the morning, with your rod beat 

 upon the bushes or boughs which hang over the waters; 'and by their 

 falling upon the waters, you will see what sorts of flies are there in 

 greatest numbers ; if divers sorts, and equal in number, try them all, and 

 you will quickly find which they most desire. Sometimes they change 

 their fly (but it 's not very usual) twice or thrice in one day ; but, ordinarily, 

 they seek not for another sort of fly, till they have, for some days, even 

 glutted themselves with a former kind, which is commonly when those flies 

 die and go out. Ibid. p. 16.* 



* Both these extracts from Venablet are founded upon the notion that the fish can discri- 

 minate the species of flie.,, than which nothing can be more unfounded, for the angler** 

 flies are not like any species. J. R. 



