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kinds of fur, and the stripping, or whirl, of 

 a grouse or cock's hackle, ostrich, and various 

 other feathers. I occasionally use a little 

 dyed wool, which is best got from the carpet 

 manufacturers, but I seldom use it by itself, 

 as silk works cleaner, makes a neater body, 

 and does not absorb so much moisture. A 

 large fly, when the body is formed chiefly of 

 wool, soon becomes heavy from the water 

 which it takes up, rendering it difficult to 

 be thrown lightly ; and whenever the fly in 

 smooth water makes a considerable eddy on 

 the surface, it can scarcely be expected that a 

 trout will rise readily at that which has scared 

 him, and which his fright has caused him to 

 examine more closely, and thus to suspect 

 the cheat. To cast lightly and truly to the 

 spot where you wish the fly to alight, con- 

 stitutes the chief excellence of the fly-fisher; 

 and as this is only to be acquired by prac- 

 tice, a day's exercise with the rod is worth 

 more than a month's study. Indeed the 

 attempt to teach the art of angling by pre- 



