312 TUK COMPLETE ANGLE E. PART II. 



us of but twelve artificial flies only, to angle with at the 

 top, and gives their names ; of which some are common 

 with us here ; and I think I guess at most of them by his 

 description, and I believe they all breed and are taken in 

 our rivers, though we do not make them either of the 

 same dubbing or fashion. And it may be in the rivers 

 about London, which I presume he has most frequented, 

 and where 'tis likely he has done most execution, there 

 is not much notice taken of many more : but we are ac- 

 quainted with several others here, though perhaps I may 

 reckon some of his by other names too ; but if I .do, I shall 

 make you amends by an addition to his catalogue. And 

 although the fore-named great master in the art of ang- 

 ling, for so in truth he is, tells you that no man should, 

 in honesty, catch a Trout till the middle of March, yet I 

 hope he will give a man leave sooner to take a Grayling, 

 which, as I told you, is in the dead months in his best 

 season : and do assure you, (which I remember by a very 

 remarkable token,) I did once take upon the sixth day of 

 December one, and only, one, of the biggest Graylings, 

 and the best in season, that ever I yet saw or tasted ; and 

 do usually take Trouts too, and with a fly, not only before 

 the middle of this month, but almost every year in Febru- 

 ary, unless it be a very ill spring indeed ; and have some- 

 times in January, so early as New-year's tide, and in 

 frost and snow, taken Grayling in a warm sunshine day 

 for an hour or two about noon ; and to fish for him with a 

 grub, it is then the best time of all. 



I shall therefore begin my fly-fishing with that month, 

 (though, I confess, very few begin so soon, and that such 

 as are so fond of the sport as to embrace all opportunities 

 can rarely in that month find a day fit for their purpose,) 

 and tell you, that, upon my knowledge, these flies in a 

 warm sun, for an hour or two in the day, are certainly 

 taken. 



