ON THE PRACTICE OF ANGLING. 47 



The Artificial Fly, so much used in England, finds but 

 little favor in this country, not because it is not as good a bait, 

 but because more skill is required in using it; consequently 

 many of our Anglers only fish in the spring months, when the 

 water is thick and turbid, and the worm can be used, while 

 the more experienced sportsman from foreign parts,* will 

 astonish the native by his dexterity in throwing the fly and kill- 

 ing an almost incredible number of fish, where the unbeliever 

 regarded the fly as a useless article of tackle. There are 

 some that attain to greater proficiency in fly-fishing than 

 others, as is the case with almost any kind of sport. But the 

 skill necessary to success in this branch of our subject, is not 

 so great as the novice imagines : certainly it is the more gen- 

 teel, as well as the most pleasant mode, as those who have 

 successfully tried it can testify. It is therefore to be hoped 

 it will be more generally adopted by 



All who seek the lake or brook, 



With rod and line, and float and hook. 



Great improvements have been made within a few years 

 in the manufacture of artificial baits. Every variety of fish 

 and insect has been most successfully imitated, defying almost 

 the scrutiny of the Angler, and certainly the object of his 

 sport. These improvements every brother of the angle 

 should adopt, and thereby remove the objections of the few 

 who oppose the art on Bacon and Byronic grounds.t 



As the enjoyment of angling naturally makes the sports- 

 man a keen observer, he should pay particular attention to 

 the winds, those 



* Parties are often made up in England for fishing in the Canadas 

 and the United States. 



t Byron and Bacon both objected to angling on account of the'neces- 

 sity which then existed of using various live animals on the hook as baits 



