THE DRAKE IN ACTION. 235 



back upon the finest stained gut, being attached to 

 the extremity of our treble X fine lashes. A live 

 Drake is now placed upon the larger or uppermost of 

 the two hooks, the hook being inserted in one side of 

 the haunch forming the shoulder, which will admit of 

 its maintaining a natural position when thrown into 

 the water. And now we commence. But stay ! your 

 rod being not made specially for the purpose, will be 

 found too stiff and difficult to use successfully. We 

 must first remedy this little, though serious matter. 

 This small piece of fine lead wire will work the oracle 

 if rolled round the tip of the top. " There, how does 

 that feel ? Rather limpy ? Take an inch or so of wire 

 off then. Now it is all right, everything that could 

 be wished, in fact. Now let's at it ! Bring round the 

 rod over the left shoulder, taking especial care not 

 to whisk, or whip off the fly. Now that was done very 

 nicely indeed, and if it only had reached that fish 

 over there, it would doubtless have been appreciated, 

 as it in all justice deserved. Again, * up he comes.' 

 Strike! Right! You have him this time; 'handle him 

 gently, treat him with care' slightly parodying Tom 

 Hood. Take him a little below there to the shallow, 

 and land him, or he will damage our sport hereabouts. 

 That was very prettily done; sharp for another fly; 

 here, you have it upon your coat ; the very air is 

 getting thick with flies. Ah ! the sun is now 

 obscured by passing vapours ; stay your hand ; now 

 for the artificial. Art before nature, when there is a 

 lively chance of its being successful. Here we have 

 our floating favourite, the Canadian wood-duck-winged 



