104 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



say, having those with him in a bag,* and trying to make a fly, 

 though he miss at first, yet shall he at last hit if better, even to 

 such a perfection as none can well teach him. And if he hit to 

 make his fly right, and have the luck to hit, also, where there is 

 store of Trouts, a dark day, and a right wind, he will catch such 

 store of them as will encourage him to grow more and more in 

 love with the art of fly-making. 



Venator. But, my loving master, if any wind will not serve, 

 then I wish I were in Lapland, to buy a good wind of one' of the- 

 honest witches that sell so many winds there, and so cheap. 



PiSCATOR. Marry, scholar, but I would not be there, nor 

 indeed from under this tree ; for look how it begins to rain, and 

 by the clouds, if I mistake not, we shall presently have a smoking 

 shower, and therefore sit close ; this sycamore-tree will shelter 

 us : and I will tell you, as they shall come into my mind, more 

 observations of fly-fishing for a Trout. 



But first for the wind : you are to take notice that of the winds 

 the south wind is said to be best. One observes, that 



When the wind is south, 

 It blows your bait into a fish's mouth. 



Next to that, the west wind is beheved to be the best : and 



the crown of the pewit, plover or lapwing ; green and copper-coloured peacock's, and 

 black ostrich, herle ; also from a heron's neck and win^s. And remember that, in most 

 instances, where the drake's or wild mallard's feather is hereafter in the text directed, 

 that from a starUng's wing will do much better, as being of a finer grain, and less 

 spongy. \ 



Be provided with marking-silk of all colours ; fine, but very strong flaw-silk ; gold 

 and silver flatted wire, or twist ; a sharp knife ; hooks of all sizes ; hog's bristles for loops 

 to your flies ; shoemaker's wax ; a large needle to raise your dubbing, when flatted with 

 working ; and a small, but sharp pair of scissors. 



Remember, with all your dubbing to mix bear's hair and hog's wool, which are stiff, 

 and not apt to imbibe the water, as fine furs and most other kinds of dubbing do; 

 remember also, that martern's fur is the best yellow you can use. 



On the subject of flies, it is only necessary to add, in addition to what Walton has said, 

 that cojpur is more attractive than form, and that an ill-made fly of a right colour is often 

 more killing than the neatest of a colour not frequently seen on the water. In clear 

 rivers small flies will be found best, but if the river be discoloured, or the weather cloudy, 

 they may be used larger. The flies should be made on the finest gut, and the hooks not 

 too large and heavy. Hackles of different colours^ the bodies of each varied in tint, are 

 perhaps best, for a hackle always falls light on the water, and does not create suspicion. 



"He who attends to the catalogue of flies published in most fishing-books, will find 

 himself perplexed and confounded; and will frequently see a homely fisherman with a 

 hazel wand, and an extra fly ortwo in reserve twisted round the band of his hat, filling 

 his hamper, whilst he, so fastidious in his choice, is selecting from his book of ready- 

 made London flies, one for the month, nay, even the hour of the day ! 1 A man may 

 as well attempt to learn the Chinese characters and language, as fish by books en- 

 thralled and entangled with a nnil^tiplicity of flies. I am much mistaken if he does not 

 soon find from experience that these Hies are lils-e qilack medicines— made to sell." — 

 Sfiorting Mag. Oct. 1823. 



* The use of a Bag is attended with many inconveniences ; to prevent which, the 

 Angler is recommended either to make a parchment book, according to the directions 

 given in Daniel's Rural Sports, vol. ii. p, 295, or to procure a similar one at a fishing- 

 tackle maker's. 



