CHAP. V.] THE FOURTH DAT. 153 



And let me again tell you, that you keep as far from the 

 water as you can possibly, whether you fish with a fly or 

 worm ; and fish down the stream. And when you fish with 

 a fly, if it be possible, let no part of your line touch the 

 water, 1 but your fly only ; and be still moving your fly upon 

 the water, or casting it into the water, you yourself being 

 also always moving down the stream. 



Mr. Barker commends several sorts of the palmer-fly ; not 

 only those ribbed with silver and gold, but others that 

 have their bodies all made of black ; or, some with red, and 

 a red hackle. You may also make the hawthorn-fly, which 

 is all black, and not big, but very small, the smaller the 

 better. Or the oak-fly, the body of which is orange colour 

 and black crewel, with a brown wing. Or a fly made with 

 a peacock's feather, is excellent in a bright day : you must 

 be sure you want not in your magazine-bag the peacock's 

 feather : and, grounds of such wool and crewel as will make 

 the grasshopper. And note, that, usually, the smallest flies 

 are the best ; and note also, that the light fly does usually 

 make most sport in a dark day ; and the darkest and least 

 fly, in a bright or clear day : and lastly note, that you are to 

 repair, upon any occasion, to your magazine-bag ; and upon 

 any occasion, vary and make them lighter or sadder according 

 to your fancy, or the day. 



And now I shall tell you, that the fishing with a natural 

 fly is excellent, and affords much pleasure. They may be 

 found thus : the May-fly, usually, in and about that month, 

 near to the river side, especially against rain : the oak-fly, 

 on the butt or body of an oak or ash, from the beginning of 

 May to the end of August ; it is a brownish fly, and easy to 

 be so found, and stands usually with his head downward, 

 that is to say, towards the root of the tree : 2 the small black- 

 reckoned a valuable secret. You may dib for a trout also with a fly or 

 grasshopper, as for a chub, under a bush, by the bank side, with a strong 

 rod, and short strong line. If they do not rise after half a dozen trials, 

 there are none there, or they dislike your bait. BKOWNE. 



1 This is impossible, unless you dib with the artificial as with the natural 

 fly, which is never practised. The method of throwing or casting is more 

 particularly treated of in the notes on chap. v. part ii. H. 



2 The oak-fly is known also by the names of the ash-fly and the woodcock- 

 fly : and in Shropshire it is called the cannon or downhill-fly. Bowlker, in 

 his "Art of Angling," p. 63, says, " This fly is bred in those little balls 



