442 AMERICAN FISHES. 



would in all probability be beaten by a much inferior fisherman. 

 But so it is, and so in all probability it ever will be ; and that man 

 will be the best angler who is the readiest at taking hints from those 

 living on the waters he wants to whip. 



There is, I regret to say, amongst fishermen an unaccountable dis- 

 like to impart knowledge to a brother disciple, an4 with many an 

 almost insuperable objection even to show their cast of flies, still less 

 the favorite nooks for the best fish ; the last one can understand and 

 think little about, for if we did want to know, we could either watch 

 unknown and unseen for a day, or we could, by carefully fishing every 

 part of the river for one day, select the best for another; but for flies 

 we should be at a loss. Luckily all this class of men are approachable 

 in an indirect way ; a quiet chat by the river side, after a casual meeting 

 (regularly planned by you), about the state of the water, weather, bad- 

 ness of gut now-a-days (a very catching topic by the way), producing 

 your point by way of a clincher : " 'Tis the best that I can get," say 

 you ; " how do you manage — for I find the greatest difficulty now in 

 getting it anywise decent ; yours seems very strong and good, pray 

 where do you obtain it?" will generally produce to your eyes the 

 casting line. A casual examination of it, a particular one of the flies, 

 done quickly, interspersed with praise on their construction, etc., 'will 

 probably gain a trifle more knowledge for you ; a present of a killing 

 fly or two on a strange water will gain you as many useless ones. But 

 a sight of the stock — this will render you au fait to the style of fly in 

 use ; you must then add up all your gains, and manufacture accord- 

 ingly. Invariably have I noticed that the most successful local fisher- 

 men are the most difficult to draw ; and I always held, and do hold, 

 that any means are fair to circumvent them. 



We will now proceed to enumerate the various articles requisite for 

 fly trying. On the following page you will see the plan of a most con- 

 venient and portable box to contain all these articles in store, and also 

 a portable case for short items. Of floss silks — such as ladies embroider 

 ottomans and such-like things with — you require every shade almost; 

 of Berlin wools, the same ; of pig's-wool, or mohair, various colors 

 and tints; of furs, you require Musk-Rat, Field-Mouse, Black Squir- 

 rel, Mink, Marten, young Fox-cub, ditto Coon, Green Monkey, Por- 

 cnpine-belly, Red Squirrel, the ear of the Eng.ish Hare, and ditto 

 Polecat. 



