FISHING GENERALITIES 89 



while a light mackintosh is not heavy to carry in 

 the fishing bag or basket, and helps to make him 

 secure against rain. It is of no earthly use to get 

 wet unnecessarily, and no one kills more fish by 

 declining to take precautions such as these. The 

 fisherman must find out for himself what kind of 

 waders suit him best, and this can only be done by 

 experience. So nothing but general suggestions such 

 as the above can be offered on this head. 



It is worth while noting that, notwithstanding 

 the amount of literature on the subject of angling 

 which has been published of recent years, no more 

 sound general advice as to trout fishing has ever been 

 set forth than that which Isaac Walton propounded 

 as having been given by one Mr. Thomas Barker in 

 his directions for fly fishing. Here it is : ' First let 

 your rod be light and very gentle : I take the best to 

 be of two pieces. And let not your line exceed 

 (especially for three or four lengths next to the hook) 

 I say, not exceed three or four hairs at the most ; 

 though you may fish a little stronger above, in the 

 upper part of your line ; but if you can attain to angle 

 with one hair, you shall have more rises and catch 

 more fish. Now you must be sure not to cumber 

 yourself with too long a line, as most do. And before 

 you begin to angle, cast to have the wind on your 



