CHAP. V. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 93 



the best to be of two pieces. 1 And let not your line 

 exceed (especially for three or four links next to the 

 hook) I say, not exceed three or four hairs at the most; 

 though you may fish a little stronger above, in the upper 

 part of your line: but if you can attain to angle with 

 one hair, you shall have more rises, and catch more fish. 

 Now you must be sure not to cumber yourself with too 

 long a line, as most do. And before you begin to angle, 

 cast to have the wind on your back; and the sun, if it 

 shines to be before you; and to fish down the stream; 

 and carry the point or top of your rod downward, by 

 which means the shadow of yourself, and rod too, will 

 be the least offensive to the fish ; for the sight of any 

 shade amazes the fish, and spoils your sport, of which 

 you must take great care. 



+ T In the middle of March, till which time a man should 

 not in honesty catch a Trout ; or in April, if the weather 

 be dark or a little windy or cloudy; the best fishing is with 

 the PALMER-WORM, of which I last spoke to 

 you ; but of these there be divers kinds, or at 

 least of divers colours: these and the MAY-FLY are the 

 ground of all fly-angling: which are to be thus made : 



\ First, you must arm your hook with the line, in the 

 inside of it : then take your scissars, and cut so much of 

 a brown mallard's feather as, in your own reason, will 

 make the wings of it, you having, withal, regard to the 

 bigness or littleness of your hook : then lay the outmost 

 part of your feather next to your hook; then the point of 

 your feather next the shank of your hook, and, having so 

 done, whip it three or four times about the hook with the 

 same silk with which your hook was armed ; and having 



fire, and let thorn boil gently, as many cooks do; and they shall boil close 

 enough ; which is a good dish, buttered with eggs, good for ploughmen, but not 

 for the palate. Sir, I hope I have given you satisfaction." 



(1) For your Rod, and also for a Fly-l'ue, take the directions contained in 

 the Notts on Chap. XXI. 



