48 ON THE PRACTICE OF ANGLING. 



" Unseen currents of the air, 



as Bryant has it. Walton says: " You are to take notice, that 

 of the winds, the south wind is said to be the best. One ob 

 serves, that 



When the wind is in the south, 



It blows the bait in the fish's mouth.' 



Next to that, the west wind is believed to be the best; and 

 having told you that the east wind is the worst, I need not 

 tell which wind is the worst in the third degree : and yet (as 

 Solomon observes) ' that he that considers the wind shall 

 never sow,' so he that busies his head too much about them, 

 if the weather be not made extreme cold by an east wind, 

 shall be a little superstitious ; for as it is observed by some 

 that there is no good horse of a bad color, so I have observed 

 that if it be a cloudy day, and not extreme cold, let the wind 

 set in what quarter it will, and do its worst, I heed it not, and 

 yet take this for a rule, that I would willingly fish standing on 

 the lee shore ; and you are to take notice that the fish lies or 

 swims nearer the bottom, and in deeper water than in sum- 

 mer ; and also nearer the bottom in a cold day, and then gets 

 nearest the lee side of the water. 



Sir Humphrey Davy says : " For fly-fishing, 



A day with not too bright a beam, 

 A warm but not a scorching sun. 



Also, " never fish with your back to the sun, as your shadow 

 is thrown on the water, and the fish are frightened at your 

 movements." These are important instructions to the Angler, 

 and the high source from whence they come should be con- 

 sidered by him as law. It would be well to notice here, 

 also, that after protracted rains or severe storms, the Angler 

 should fish at the bottom if he expect sport, and that it is use- 



