130 Fly-Fifhing. 



In all rivers and brooks where the ftone-fly is 

 to be found in abundance, as well as the May-fly, 

 there is a board fpread moft bountifully with the 

 choiceft dainties, confifting of the cadis and cod- 

 bait, which reprefent thefe infects, and expofe 

 themfelves to the quick eyes of the trout in their 

 preparations to put on their laft and beft attire. 



Such a mighty ftirring of infect life is there be- 

 low, and fuch a profufion of fat things, that the 

 fifh become like aldermen after a turtle-feaft, in- 

 difpofed to touch anything befides, unlefs of the 

 moft recherche kind. Now is the time for the 

 fly-rimer to difplay all his (kill, if he would furnifh 

 his bafket with a few of the finny tribe. 



At fuch a feafon how often have I been griev- 

 oufly difappointed, when all feemed in my favour 

 the weather and the water unexceptionable to 

 find how little notice the trout would condefcend 

 to take of my beft flies. Now is the time for all 

 the patience you are mafter of, and perfeverance. 

 To thefe virtues muft I attribute more than once 

 a bad beginning followed by a better end. 



If the water will allow, the flies I ufed on the 

 prefent occafion have often before flood my friends 

 the Alder, Cochabonddu, and Yellow Dun 

 fometimes varied by the Red-fpinner. There is 

 no more difficult fly to imitate than the latter, nor 



