MORE FISHING NOTES. 243 



fished that part of the river. His long rod was all one 

 piece, of his own make, but composed of four or five 

 lengths of different woods, well seasoned and skilfully 

 spliced, the joints whipped over in the most workman- 

 like manner. I knew him well — indeed at that time 

 all the frequenters of the river-side were known to me 

 more or less. After returning my greeting he asked, 

 " What d'ye think I'm going to hev a flick for this 

 mornin' .' Dace, big uns too ; they're on the feed in 

 the shaller, at gnats — little black gnats! Don't ye 

 see 'em break ? That shaller is alive with 'em. I've 

 been tryin for 'em, but 'twas no go. Then I gits in 

 the water a goodish bit below 'em, an' I see these 'ere 

 gnats come floatin' down. Out I gits, goes 'ome, an' 

 makes a couple o' casts of 'em ; for I got some of 'em 

 to copy like. One of 'em is on the cast, t'other's 

 roun' my hat. It's a long cast, an' a two-handed 

 one, but I ken reach 'em. I wishes you'd tell us 

 when I'm gettin' near 'em, for they're feedin' a ' bit 

 fine.'" 



He was a brother of the craft was Gentle. Down 

 I went on my knees, then I could see to an inch 

 where they rose at the fly. Never have I seen a 

 better bit of casting then I saw that clever active 



