CHAP. V.] THE SECOND DAT. 385 



him too, if it be presently done ; the fish will otherwise, 

 peradventure, be removed to some other place l if it be in 

 the still-deeps, where he is always in motion, and roving up 

 and down to look for prey ; though in a stream, you may 

 always, almost, especially if there be a good stone near, find 

 him in the same place. 2 Your line ought in this case to be 

 three good hairs next the hook, 3 both by reason you are in this 

 kind of angling, to expect the biggest fish, and also, that 

 wanting length to give him line after he is struck, you must 

 be forced to tug for't : to which I will also add, that not an 

 inch of your line being to be suffered to touch the water in 

 dibbling, it may be allowed to be the stronger. I should now 

 give you a description of those flies, their shape and colour, 

 and then give you an account of their breeding, and withal 

 show you how to keep and use them ; but shall defer that 

 to their proper place and season. 



Viat. In earnest, sir, you discourse very rationally of this 

 affair, and I am glad to find myself mistaken in you ; for in 

 plain truth I did not expect so much from you. 



Pise. Nay, sir, I can tell you a great deal more than this, 



1 It may be considered almost the invariable habit of a fish, particularly 

 trout, to swim away from the spot where it has risen at a fly. RENNIE. 



2 As the bird termed the fly-catcher has always a favourite post from 

 which to spring upon flies on the wing, and hence is called the post bird 

 in Kent, so trouts have usually a favourite stone to lie near in a river ; 

 and if you kill a trout in such a haunt, his place will probably be soon 

 supplied with another. RENNIE. The author of the " Seasons " has cele- 

 brated the attractive properties of a "good stone :" 



Just in the dubious point, where with the pool 



Is mixed the trembling stream, or lohere it boils 



Around the stone, or from the hollowed bank 



Reverted plays in undulating flow, 



There throw, nice judging, the delusive fly, 



And as you lead it round the artful curve, 



With eye attentive mark the springing game, 



Straight as above the surface of the flood 



They wanton rise, or urged by hunger, leap, 



Then fix, with gentle twitch, the barbed hook ; 



Some lightly tossing to the grassy bank, 



And to the shelving shore slow-dragging some, 



With various hand, proportioned to their force. THOMSON. 



3 Or silk- worm gut, an improvement since the days of the author. 

 BROWNE. 



c c 



