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clearness, being something different from the method commonly used in others, which, by being not near so bright, admit of stronger tackle, and allow a nearer approach to the stream;-1 may, peradventure, give you some instructions, that may be of use even in your own rivers; and shall bring you acquainted with more flies, and show you how to make them, and with what dubbing too, than he has taken notice of in his "Complete Angler."

Viat. I beseech you, sir, do: and, if you will lend me your steel, I will light a pipe the while; for that is commonly my breakfast in a morning too.2

THE SECOND DAY.

(Continued.)

CHAPTER IV.

OF ANGLING FOR TROUT OR GRAYLING, DIVIDED INTO THREE BRANCHES.

Pisc. junior. Why then, sir, to begin methodically, as a master in any art should do, and I will not deny but that I think myself a master in this: I shall divide angling for trout or grayling, into these three ways: at the top; at the bottom; and in the middle. Which three ways, though they are all of them, as I shall hereafter endeavour to make it appear, in some sort common to both those kinds of fish, yet are they not so generally and absolutely so, but that they will necessarily require a distinction; which, in due place, I will also give you.

That which we call angling at the top, is with a fly at the

1 Part I., chap. V.

2 The American editor says, "It is not wise to venture out in the morning with an empty stomach, which renders the system peculiarly liable to any malaria that may be prevalent; besides, an empty stomach makes a light brain, and the angler needs all the coolness of judgment he can command."-AM. ED.

bottom with a ground-bait: in the middle, with a minnow, or ground-bait.

Angling at the top is of two sorts: with a quick-fly, or with an artificial-fly.

That we call angling at the bottom, is also of two sorts: by the hand, or with a cork or float.

2

That we call angling in the middle is also of two sorts: with a minnow for a trout, or with a ground-bait for a grayling.

Of all which several sorts of angling, I will, if you can have the patience to hear me, give you the best account I can.

Viat. The trouble will be yours, and mine the pleasure and the obligation. I beseech you therefore to proceed. Pisc. Why then first of fly-fishing.

1 That is to say, any bait that is fished with at the ground or bottom.— BROWNE.

2 That is, the bait running on the ground with several shot or a small bullet, without a float.-BROWNE.

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THE SECOND DAY.

(Continued.)

CHAPTER V.

OF FLY-FISHING.

Pisc. junior. Fly-fishing, or fishing at the top, is, as I said before, of two sorts; with a natural, and living fly, or with an artificial, and made fly.

First then, of the natural fly: of which we generally use but two sorts, and those but in the two months of May and June only, namely, the green-drake and the stone-fly; though I have made use of a third that way, called the camlet-fly, with very good success for grayling, but never saw it angled with by any other after this manner, my master only excepted, who died many years ago, and was one of the best anglers that ever I knew.

These are to be angled with, with a short line, not much more than half the length of your rod, if the air be still; or with a longer, very near or all out as long as your rod, if you have any wind to carry it from you: and this way of fishing we call daping, dabbing, or dibbling;1 wherein you are always to have your line flying before you up or down the river as the wind serves, and to angle as near as you can to the bank of the same side whereon you stand; though where you see a fish rise near you, you may guide your quick-fly over him, whether in the middle, or on the contrary side; and, if you are pretty well out of sight, either by kneeling or the interposition of a bank or bush, you may almost be sure to raise, and take

1 See in chap. VII. May, art. 11, directions how to bait with the greendrake fly.

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