THE TROUT. 77 



and in landing of a fish, which every one that can afford to 

 angle for pleasure has somebody to do for him.* And the 

 length of line is a mighty advantage to the fishing at a dis- 

 tance ; and to fish fine and far off, is the first and principal 

 rule for trout angling. Your line in this case should never be 

 less than one, nor ever exceed two hairs, next to the hook ; 

 for one (though some, I know, will pretend to more art than 

 their fellows) is indeed too few, the least accident, with the 

 finest hand, being sufficient to break it ; but he that cannot 

 kill a trout of twenty inches long with two, in a river clear of 

 wood and weeds, deserves not the name of a true angler. 



" Now, to have your linet as it ought to be, two of the 

 finest lengths nearest the hook should be of two hairs a-piece ; 

 the next three lengths above them of three ; the next three 

 above them of four ; and so of five, and six, and seven, to the 

 very top ; by which means your rod and tackle will in a 

 manner taper from your very hand to your hook; your line 

 will fall much better and straighter, and cast your fly to any 

 certain place to which the hand and eye shah 1 direct it, with 

 less weight and violence, than would otherwise circle the 

 water and fright away the fish. 



" In casting your line, do it always before you, and so that 

 your fly may first fall upon the water, and as little of your 

 line with it as possible ; though if the wind be stiff, you will 

 of necessity be compelled to drown a good part of your line 

 to keep your fly under water. And in casting your fly you 

 must aim at the farther or nearer bank, as the wind serves 



* This is the method of fishing without a reel, and with very fine hair 

 lines, mostly practised in Cotton's day. We hardly think that every 

 body in Republican America, that can afford to fish for pleasure, has 

 an attendant to land his fish for him ! 



t This mode is given for the benefit of those who live in the country, 

 are obliged to make their own lines, and find it necessary to fish with 

 out a reel. 



