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and bushes ? He does no such thing, but 

 leaves his pupil, after telling him how he 

 may raise a host of flies, to put one on his 

 hook according to his own judgment which 

 is, in other words, telling him how on a small 

 scale he may produce a little " sound and fury 

 signifying nothing," unless he should happen 

 to rouse a nest of wasps, which perhaps may 

 teach him a lesson that will render him 

 cautious in beating the bushes again. Walton 

 has observed with great truth and humor, 

 " that whereas it is said by many that in 

 fly-fishing for a trout, the angler must ob- 

 serve his twelve several flies for the twelve 

 months of the year ; I say, he that follows 

 that rule shall be as sure to catch fish, and 

 be as wise as he that makes hay by the fair 

 days in an almanack, and no surer." This 

 passage, which stands in the preface, where 

 it is apt to be overlooked, should be diligently 

 noted by the speculative angler, who thinks 

 to become master of his art by diligent study 

 rather than by practice and experience. 



