THROWING THE LINE AND FLIES. 17 



handed from right to left, you will be able to 

 throw it to a moderate distance easily and lightly. 

 Take a coachman's whip in your hand, and work 

 It right and left, making the lash crack each time, 

 and you will acquire a freedom in the wrist that 

 will be of service to you in handling the fly-rod. 

 A coachman driving four-in-hand, with a long, 

 limber whip-handle and tapering thong, makes use 

 of the fly-fisher's motions, but does so in a manner 

 too cramped, sudden, harsh and violent. Observe 

 him touching playfully the heads of his leaders 

 with the point of the lash, now the off-leader on 

 the right side, and then the near-leader on the 

 left side about the ear, and you will see how he 

 works from right to left and from left to right. 

 Imitate him, but most cautiously. Try and catch 

 his ease and neatness ; avoid the narrowness of 

 the circles he describes with whip-handle and 

 thong, and the rapidity and jerking of his wrist 

 motions. 



All you now want is to throw with precision. 

 Let there be a mark in the water, and first try to 

 throw a little above it, and in the next cast a little 

 below it. Then throw right upon it, over it, be- 

 yond it, and on your own side of it. Having suc- 

 ceeded in throwing with accuracy where there are 

 no obstructions, seek spots of the river where they 

 exist where there are overhanging branches of 

 trees, weeds, rocks, or the ends of piles appearing 

 c 



