15 



the hairs of a cow's tail. His flies, though, showy and 

 well enough, made, are not the kind for a trout, although, 

 laid within an inch of his nose "by ever so fine a hand. 

 He supplied "himself at a tackle-makers, who knowing 

 little of fly-fishing except for chut), provided his custo- 

 mer with a choice and extensive assortment of moths, 

 cockchafers, and "bees, with various kinds of large flies, 

 dressed on hooks large enough to hold any salmon in 

 Tweed. 



Having thus supplied himself with the means, and 

 qualified himself in the art of killing by a diligent 

 study of Walton ^enables, B arker , 33 owlker, Williams on, 

 Mackintosh, Bainbridge, Carrol, and others, who have 

 treated of fly-fishing, he arrives at Harrogate about the 

 middle of August, and in the course of a day or two pro- 

 ceeds to the Wh.arfe in the neighbourhood of Harewood, 

 to make his first essay. Not wishing to appear as a 

 novice, and thinking that his knowledge of the science 

 may fairly place "him on a par with any mere practical 

 country fly-fisher, who has never read a book on the 

 subject in his life, he asks no one's advice, but in the 

 fullness of his own wisdom, sets about putting his 

 theory into practice sometimes a rather diflficult affair 

 as well in fly-fishing as in ploughing by steam. Having 

 reached the water, which happens to be small and fine, 

 about ten in the morning, the sun shining bright and 

 the sky clear, he very properly begins by adjusting his 

 tackle. He puts his rod together, screws on his wheel 

 on which he winds the line in a very artist-like man- 

 ner, leading the end of it through the rings on the rod. 



