,transcriber's ,notes    ,all           
punctuation errors repaired4   ,page    
#ab--;ancle is an obsolete spelling of  
ankle1 so has been retained4   ,the     
corrections listed in the ,errata have  
been applied to the text4   ,these are  
noted at the end of the book4           
,illustration       ,,trout ,,flies     
,,of   ,,devon ,,and ,,cornwall1   ,,and
   ,,when ,,and ,,how ,,to ,,use ,,them4
    ,,by ,g4 ,w4 ,,soltau1 ,,esq4       
,,little ,,efford1 ,,devon4    8,and    
thus our life exempt from public haunts1
   8,finds tongues in trees1 books in   
the running brook1   8,sermons in       
stones1 and good in every thing40       
,,longman  ,,co4 ,,paternoster ,,row2   
,,wallis ,,and ,,holden1 ,,exeter2      
,,brightwell1 ,,barnstaple2 ,,liddell1  
,,bodmin2 ,,heard ,,and ,,sons1 ,,truro2
 ,,and   ,,edward ,,nettleton1 ,,whimple
 ,,street1   ,,plymouth1   ,,printer    
,,to ,,her ,,majesty4    #ahdg4         
,,note4  ,it will be remarked that the  
,flies furnished by the makers1 do not1 

in all cases1 exhibit the same tints as 
those shown in the drawings2 this arises
 from the difficulty of colouring       
exactly from the original ,flies4 ,i    
have examined the patterns manufactured 
by the parties referred to in p4 #dj1   
and find they correspond precisely with 
my own4 ,i would therefore recommend    
those persons1 who are in the habit of  
making their own flies1 to procure      
patterns from the makers and imitate    
them1 rather than take those in the     
lithographed sketch for their guide4    
,,errata4  ,page #i1 line #af1 for to   
apt1 read too apt4 ,page #ae1 line #g1  
for variest1 read veriest4 ,page #bj1   
line #aj1 for aught1 read naught4 ,page 
#ce1 line #h1 for lace1 read ,laced4    
,page #ii1 line #h1 for falshood1 read  
falsehood4     ,,treatise  ,,on         
,,fly-,,fishing4   ,i am induced to     
offer the following pages to the        
youthful aspirant after piscatory fame1 
from the belief1 that the various       
treatises1 which have appeared from time

 to time on ,fly-,fishing1 do not       
contain those minute details1 which are 
so essential to the ready acquirement of
 the art1 and which are generally learnt
 by slow degrees2 either from some      
experienced angler1 or by the accidental
 discovery of the noviciate4  ,my chief 
object however1 is to furnish the       
sportsman1 who for the first time is    
about to wet his line in the west1 with 
a list of flies2 which1 for a period of 
twenty years1 ,i have found the most    
effective1 in the ,rivers of ,devon and 
,cornwall4 ,i have no doubt1 they would 
be equally successful in ,somerset1 in  
the smaller ,rivers of ,wales1 and in   
some of the ,irish ,lakes2 but1 as ,i   
cannot vouch from personal experience1  
,i must leave to others the task of     
testing their more general application4 
,my remarks are restricted to           
,fly-,fishing2 partly1 because ,i hold  
this to be the most skilful and pleasing
 of the various ways by which man       
secures the wily fish2 and also1 from   

the length to which this paper would    
extend1 if ,i were to enlarge on the    
numerous other devices adopted to entrap
 the finny tribe4  ,worms1 kill-devils1 
salmon-roe1 minnows1 cock-chafers1 c4 c4
 c41 are to be met with in the catalogue
 of the fisherman's stock in trade2 and1
 if we extend our researches to distant 
climes1 we find even birds are classed  
among the fishing implements4  ,the     
,cormorant1 an aquatic bird of ,china1  
and other countries1 is an excellent    
swimmer and diver1 and also flies well4 
,it is very voracious1 and as soon as it
 perceives a fish in the water1 it darts
 down with great rapidity1 and clings   
its prey firmly1 by means of saw like   
indentations on its feet4 ,the fish is  
brought up with one foot2 the other foot
 enables the bird to rise to the        
surface1 and by an adroit movement1 the 
fish is loosened from the foot and      
grasped in the bird's mouth4  ,le       
,comte1 a ,french writer1 describes the 
mode in which the ,chinese avail        

themselves of this angling propensity on
 the part of the cormorants3 8to this   
end10 says he1 8cormorants are educated 
as men rear up spaniels or hawks1 and   
one man can easily manage one hundred4  
,the fisher carries them out into the   
lake1 perched on the gunnel of his boat1
 where they continue tranquil and       
expecting his orders with patience4     
,when arrived at the proper place1 at   
the first signal given1 each flies a    
different way to fulfil the task        
assigned it4 ,it is very pleasant on    
this occasion1 to behold with what      
sagacity they portion out the lake or   
the canal where they are upon duty4     
,they hunt about1 they plunge1 they rise
 a hundred times to the surface1 until  
they have at last found their prey4     
,they then seize it with their beak by  
the middle1 and carry it without fail to
 their master4 ,when the fish is too    
large1 they then give each other mutual 
assistance2 one seizes it by the head1  
the other by the tail1 and in this      

manner carry it to the boat together4   
,there1 the boatman stretches out one of
 his long oars1 on which they perch1 and
 being delivered of their burden they   
then fly off to pursue their sport4     
,when they are wearied he lets them rest
 for a while3 but they are never fed    
till their work is over4 ,in this manner
 they supply a very plentiful table--but
 still their natural gluttony cannot be 
reclaimed even by education4 ,they have 
always1 when they fish1 a string        
fastened round their throats1 to prevent
 them from devouring their prey1 as     
otherwise they would at once satiate    
themselves and discontinue the pursuit  
the moment they had filled their        
bellies40  ,local information1 is at all
 times1 most valuable to the fisherman2 
without it1 his money is often wasted1  
and his patience1 sorely taxed4 ,he     
purchases flies1 which frighten1 rather 
than attract1 the fish4 ,a sportsman    
should seek instruction from every      
quarter1 and not take for granted that  

the experience he has acquired in his   
own neighbourhood1 will serve him when  
he roams from home4 ,but many are too   
apt to rely on their own judgment2 they 
procure flies1 which are totally        
inapplicable to our rivers2 they sally  
forth on a piscatory trip well provided 
with these monsters2 they have little or
 no sport2 are disgusted with our       
rivers2 and seek in some distant land   
that amusement1 which under more        
favorable auspices1 they might have     
obtained in these counties4 ,not that   
our fish generally run so large1 as in  
some parts of the kingdom--they are     
however very strong1 and one of a half  
pound1 will afford better sport1 than   
one of double the weight in some of the 
more popular streams4  ,let not the     
reader flatter himself1 that the closest
 attention to the suggestions ,i shall  
shortly offer2 nay1 that all the        
information contained in the numerous   
books1 which have been written upon this
 interesting subject2 will1 at once1    

enable him to supply the larder or      
gratify a friend2 they are only         
facilities to the acquirement of the    
science2 practice and patience1 are     
required in large proportion to form the
 expert fisherman4 ,the days1 the weeks1
 which he must devote to the attainment 
of his wishes1 will not however be      
unprofitably passed1 if he avail himself
 of the numerous opportunities which    
will offer for the study of those works 
of nature1 with which his path will be  
abundantly strewed4 ,he will find       
opportunities for acquiring an insight  
into the natural history of the finny   
tribe2 into the natural history of the  
busy fly1 or beauteous moth1 that tempt 
the wily fish4 ,the lichen and the      
moss--the thousand plants that line the 
rivers bank1 or the stately trees and   
shapeless rocks that shade its waters2  
all1 are subjects1 which the more he    
contemplates1 the more he will wonder   
and admire4 ,and1 when by practice1 he  
finds himself an adept in the art1 and  

looks with pleasure on his captured     
prey2 it may suggest the fate of those1 
who attracted by the glittering tinsel  
and allured by the gaudy show1 follow   
these dangerous snares and fall a       
sacrifice to the pomps and vanities of  
life4  ,the expert fisherman must be    
temperate in all things3 the steady hand
 and quick eye are indispensable2 the   
drunkard must quit our ranks1--the      
feverish temperament1--the blood-shot   
eye1--the giddy head1 bespeak the peril 
of the man--not of the fish4 ,the       
epicure must follow his boon            
companion2--the bloated cheek--the      
shortened breath--the gouty ancle1 are  
more likely to furnish food for fish1   
than fish1 for food4 ,that temperance   
has characterised many of our best      
artists1 is evidenced1 from the extreme 
age that several have acquired2 for it  
cannot have been from mere accident1 or 
from their having originally stronger   
stamina than other mortals1 that so many
 have lived to an age far exceeding the 

ordinary term of human existence4       
,henry ,jenkins1 who lived to the age of
 #afi1 and who boasted when giving      
evidence in a court of justice1 to a    
fact of one hundred and twenty years    
date1 that he could dub a fly as well as
 any man in ,yorkshire1 continued       
angling for more than a century1 after  
the greater number of those who were    
born at the same time1 were mouldering  
in their graves4  ,dr4 ,nowell was a    
most indefatigable angler1 allotting a  
tenth part of his time to his favorite  
recreation1 and giving a tenth part of  
his income and all the fish he caught to
 the poor4 ,he lived to the age of #ie1 
having neither his eyesight1 hearing1 or
 memory impaired4  ,walton1 lived to    
upwards of #ij4  ,henry ,mackenzie1 died
 in ,january1 #ahca1 aged #hf4  ,these  
and many others that might be named1    
were remarkable for their temperate     
habits3 there is no doubt however1 that 
their pursuits by the side of the       
running streams1 whose motion imparts   

increased activity to the vital         
principle of the air2 and1 that         
composure of mind 7so necessary to the  
perfect health of the body71 to which   
angling so materially contributes1 must 
also have had an influence on their     
physical constitutions4  ,we boast in   
our ranks1 some of ,england's bravest   
warriors1 her most experienced          
statesmen1 her best divines1 and her    
cleverest philosophers4 ,our princes    
have substituted the rod for the        
sceptre1 and have endeavoured to vie    
with their subjects in the capture of   
the wily trout4  ,george the ,fourth1   
was much attached to this amusement1    
though he was not particularly          
successful4 ,his fishing apparatus was  
of the most costly character3 the case1 
containing the various requisites1 was  
covered with the best crimson morocco   
leather2 the edges1 sloped with double  
borders of gold ornaments1 representing 
alternately1 salmon1 and basket2 the    
outer border1 formed a rich gold wreath 

of the rose1 thistle1 and shamrock1     
intertwined by oak leaves1 and acorns2  
the centre of the lid1 presented a      
splendid gold impression of the ,royal  
,arms of ,great ,britain and ,ireland4  
,the case was fastened with one of      
,bramah's patent locks1 handles1 eyes1  
c41 all double gilt2 whilst the interior
 was lined with the finest ,genoese     
sky-blue velvet4 ,the hooks for angling 
and fly-fishing were of the most chaste 
and beautiful description4  ,that       
majesty is not famed for proficiency in 
the art1 may be partly accounted for    
from the circumstance1 that fly-fishing 
is one of the few occupations which     
depend entirely on the individual skill 
of the sportsman4 ,keepers may rise     
pheasants by the score1 and drive hares 
by the dozen before the well-placed gun2
 offering shots which the veriest tyro  
cannot fail to kill3 the huntsman by a  
judicious cast1 may exhibit the hounds  
and their quarry1 in the most           
accommodating proximity to the royal    

group--the highland deer may be driven  
within the limits of the rifles         
range--but1 no keeper's art can oblige a
 trout to rise2 or1 compel the salmon to
 quit its darkened haunt1 even for the  
amusement of princes1 or sport of kings4
 ,the finny tribe acknowledge no        
allegiance1 and will not be tempted1    
though the fly be proffered by royal    
hands4 ,prompt obedience is expected by 
kings2 a ready compliance with their    
wishes1 is their behest4  ,nelson1 was  
an excellent fly-fisher2 and1 as a proof
 of his passion for it1 continued the   
pursuit even with his left hand4  ,dr4  
,paley1 was ardently attached to this   
amusement1 so much so1 that when the    
,bishop of ,durham enquired of him1 when
 one of his most important works would  
be finished2 he said1 with great        
simplicity and good humour1 8,my ,lord1 
,i shall work steadily at it when the   
fly-fishing season is over20 as if this 
were a business of his life4  ,to the   
list of eminent characters who have been

 lovers of angling1 may be added the    
name of ,robert ,burns4  ,hogg1 the     
,ettrick ,shepherd1 may be noticed as an
 expert angler4  ,professor ,wilson1 is 
one of the best fly-fishers that ever   
threw a fly4  ,wordsworth1 is an angler1
 and in many of his poems may be traced 
images which have reference to1 or have 
been suggested by this delightful art4  
,emerson1 the mathematician1 was a      
fly-fisher4  ,dr4 ,birch1 formerly      
,secretary to the ,royal ,society1 was a
 lover of angling2 and ,dr4 ,wollaston  
and ,sir ,humphrey ,davy1 are instances 
of men of the highest philosophic       
attainments1 finding pleasure in the rod
 and line4  ,chantrey1 was much attached
 to this amusement1 and prided himself  
on the superiority of his equipment4  ,a
 sport which is thus seen to be so      
universally popular1 has naturally been 
selected as a subject upon which some of
 our ablest men have written many       
instructive and interesting pages4 ,the 
first treatise in our language appeared 

in #adif but the earliest allusion to   
the art1 is by ,elian1 who flourished in
 the year #bbe4 ,in the fifteenth book  
of his ,history of ,animals1 he says1   
8that a fish of various color is taken  
in the ,river ,austrum1 between ,bera   
and ,thessalonica40 ,he also describes a
 fly which frequents the river1 which is
 greatly preyed on by this fish2 he     
states1 that the skilful fisherman1     
dresses an imitation of it on his hook1 
forming the body of purple coloured     
wool1 and adding two yellow feathers of 
a cock's hackle for wings4  ,the work   
which appeared in #adif1 was printed by 
,wynkyn de ,worde1 and is known by the  
name of the 8,book of ,st4 ,albans10    
from its having been first printed in   
the monastery there in #adhf4 ,this book
 is a small folio of seventy-three      
leaves1 and contains short treatises on 
hawking1 hunting1 fishing1 c4 ,how long 
the latter art had been practiced in    
,england before this publication1 is not
 known2 but the directions for dressing 

the twelve different kind of flies1     
7which even ,walton1 writing a hundred  
and fifty years later1 availed himself  
of7 are not such1 as were likely to be  
suggested in the infancy of the art4    
,the treatise commences with the        
following expositions3--  8,solomon in  
his parables saith1 #8that a good spirit
 maketh a flourishing age2' that is1 a  
fair age and a long40 8,if a man lack   
leech and medicine1 he shall make three 
things1 his leech and medicine1 and he  
shall need never no more4 ,the first of 
them is1 a merry thought1--the second   
is1 labour not outrageous1--the third   
is1 diet measurable40  ,the writer then 
proceeds to a comparison of angling1    
with hunting1 hawking1 and fowling1 and 
after enumerating the inconveniences    
attendant on the three last1 thus       
recounts the pleasures and advantages of
 angling4  8,thus me seemeth1 that      
hunting and hawking1 and also fowling1  
are so laborious and grievous1 that none
 of them may perform1 nor be the means  

to induce a man to a merry spirit2 which
 is the cause of his long life1         
according unto the said parable of      
,solomon4  8,doubtless then it followeth
 that it needs must be the desport of   
fishing with an angle1 for all other    
manner of fishing is laborious and      
grievous1 often making folks full wet   
and cold1 which many times hath been    
cause of great infirmities4  8,but the  
angler may have no cold1 nor no disease1
 nor anger1 except he be the cause      
himself4 ,for he may not lose at the    
most1 but a line and a hook1 of which he
 may have store plenty of his own       
making1 as this simple treatise shall   
teach him4 ,so then his loss is not     
grievous1 and other griefs may he not   
have1 saving if any fish break away1    
after that he is taken on the hook1 or  
else that he catch nought4 ,which is not
 grievous4 ,for if he fail of one1 he   
may not fail of another1 if he doeth as 
this treatise teacheth2 except there be 
naught in the water4  8,and yet1 at     

least he has his wholesome walk and     
merry at his ease1 and hath a sweet air 
of the sweet savour of the mead flowers 
that maketh him hungry4 ,he heareth the 
melodious harmony of fowls4 ,he seeth   
the young swans1 herons1 ducks1 coots1  
and many other fowls with their broods3 
which seemeth to me1 better than all the
 noise of hounds1 the blast of horns1   
and the cry that hunters1 falconers1 and
 fowlers1 can make4  8,and if the angler
 take fish1 surely then1 there is no man
 merrier than he is in his spirit4      
8,also1 whoso will use the game of      
angling1 he must rise early2 which thing
 is profitable to man in this wise1     
7that is to wit7 most to the health of  
his soul1 for it shall cause him to be  
holy4 ,and to the health of his body1   
for it shall cause him to be whole4     
,also to the increase of his goods1 for 
it shall make him rich1 as the old      
,english proverb says1 in this wise1    
#8whoso will rise early1 shall be holy1 
healthy1 and wealthy4'  8,thus1 have ,i 

proved in my intent1 that the sport of  
angling is the very means and cause that
 induceth a man unto a merry spirit4    
,which after the said parable of        
,solomon1 and the said doctrine of      
physic1 maketh a flowering age and a    
long4  8,and therefore to all you that  
be virtuous1 genteel1 and free born1 ,i 
write and make this simple treatise     
following1 by which ye may have the full
 craft of angling to desport you at your
 pleasure1 to the intent that your age  
may be the more flower and the more     
longer to endure40  ,from the first     
publication of this book to the         
appearance of 8,walton's ,complete      
,angler10 there seems to have been no   
improvement of the original work2 on the
 contrary1 the 8doers0 of new editions  
of the book under new titles seem to    
have had but little skill in the art of 
fly-fishing1 and their alterations1 as  
,pinkerton said of ,evelyn's amendments 
of his work on medals1 8are for the     
worse40  ,in #afec1 appeared the first  

edition of 8,walton's ,complete ,angler2
 or1 ,contemplative ,man's ,recreation30
 in small duodecimo1 adorned with cuts  
of most of the fish mentioned in it4 ,it
 came into the world attended with      
laudatory verses by several writers of  
the day1 and had in the title page1     
7though ,walton thought proper to omit  
it in future editions7 this apposite    
motto1 8,simon ,peter said1 ,i go a     
fishing1 and they said1 we also will go 
with thee40 ,john xxi4 #c4  ,isaac      
,walton1 was born at ,stafford1 in      
,august1 #aeic4 ,he settled in ,london  
as a shopkeeper1 in the ,royal          
,exchange2 and1 as in the year #afbd1 he
 was fixed in a different part of the   
city1 it is supposed1 he was one of the 
first inhabitants of that building2 and 
being then but twenty-three years1 was  
perhaps one of those industrious young  
men whom1 as we are told1 the munificent
 founder himself1 ,sir ,thomas ,gresham1
 placed in the shops erected over that  
edifice4 ,we next hear of him in        

,chancery ,lane1 where he carried on the
 trade of a linen draper4 ,about #afdc1 
he left ,london with a fortune1 very far
 short of what would now be called a    
competency2 we are told he subsequently 
8lived at ,stafford and elsewhere1 but  
mostly in the families of the eminent   
clergymen of ,england1 of whom he was   
much beloved40 ,he employed his time in 
writing several biographical works1 and 
at the advanced age of eighty-three1    
7which1 to use his own words7 8might    
have procured him a writ of ease1 and   
secured him from all further trouble in 
that kind10 he undertook to write the   
life of ,dr4 ,robert ,sanderson1 ,bishop
 of ,lincoln1 which was published in    
#afgg4 ,in #afhc1 when he was ninety    
years old1 he published 8,thealma and   
,clearchus10 a pastoral history1 in     
smooth and easy verse4 ,he lived but a  
short time after the publication of this
 poem2 for1 as ,wood says1 8he ended his
 days on the fifteenth day of ,december1
 #afhc1--;in the great frost at         

,winchester1 at the house of ,dr4       
,william ,hawkins1 a prebendary of the  
church there1 where he lies buried40    
,the 8,complete ,angler0 has passed     
through several editions2 and1 although 
the art has greatly improved since      
,walton's day1 its perusal will afford  
much information and amusement1 as well 
to the sportsman as the general reader2 
for1 in the words of one of the editors1
 8let no man imagine1 that a work on    
such a subject1 must necessarily be     
unentertaining1 or trifling1 or even    
uninstructive2 for the contrary will    
most evidently appear1 from a perusal of
 this excellent piece1 which1 whether we
 consider the elegant simplicity of the 
style2 the ease1 and unaffected humour  
of the dialogue2 the lovely scenes which
 it delineates2 the enchanting pastoral 
poetry which it contains2 or1 the fine  
morality it so sweetly inculcates2 has  
hardly its fellow in any of the modern  
languages40  ,these remarks are very    
applicable to other treatises which have

 appeared on the same subject1 more     
especially those of ,shaw1 ,scrope1 and 
,sir ,h4 ,davie2 indeed1 there are few  
works more beautifully written than     
8,salmonia10 wherein the talented author
 thus alludes to his favorite           
recreation4  8,the search after food1 is
 an instinct belonging to our nature2   
and from the savage in his rudest and   
most primitive state1 who destroys a    
piece of game1 or a fish1 with a club or
 spear--to man in the most cultivated   
state of society1 who employs artifice1 
machinery1 and the resources of various 
other animals to secure his object1 the 
origin of the pleasure is similar1 and  
its object the same2 but that kind of it
 requiring most art1 may be said to     
characterise man in his highest or      
intellectual state2 and the fisher for  
salmon or trout with the fly1 employs   
not only machinery to assist his        
physical powers1 but applies sagacity to
 conquer difficulties2 and the pleasure 
derived from ingenious resources and    

devices1 as well as from active pursuit1
 belongs to this amusement4 ,then as to 
his philosophical tendency2 it is a     
pursuit of moral discipline--requiring  
patience1 forbearance and command of    
temper4 ,as connected with natural      
science1 it may be vaunted as demanding 
a knowledge of the habits of a          
considerable tribe of created           
beings--fishes1 and the animals that    
they prey upon2 and an acquaintance with
 the signs and tokens of the weather and
 its changes1 the nature of waters and  
of the atmosphere4 ,as to its poetical  
relations1 it carries us into the most  
wild and beautiful scenery of nature2   
amongst the mountain lakes1 and the     
clear and lovely streams that gush from 
the higher ranges of elevated hills--or 
that make their way through the cavities
 of calcareous strata4  8,how delightful
 in the early spring1 after the dull and
 tedious time of winter1 when the frosts
 disappear1 and the sunshine warms the  
earth and waters1 to wander forth by    

some clear stream1 to see the leaf      
bursting from the purple bud1 or scent  
the odours of the bank perfumed by the  
violet1 and enamelled1 as it were1 with 
the primrose and the daisy2--to wander  
upon the fresh turf below the shade of  
trees1 whose bright blossoms are filled 
with the music of the bee1--and on the  
surface of the waters to view the gaudy 
flies sparkling like animated gems in   
the sunbeams1 whilst the bright and     
beautiful trout is watching them from   
below2--to hear the twittering of the   
water-birds1 who1 alarmed at your       
approach1 rapidly hide themselves       
beneath the flowers and leaves of the   
water-lily2--and as the season advances1
 to find all these objects changed for  
others of the same kind1 but better and 
brighter1 till the swallow and the trout
 contend as it were for the gaudy ,may  
fly1 and till1 in pursuing your         
amusement in the calm and balmy evening1
 you are serenaded by the songs of the  
cheerful thrush and the melodious       

nightingale1 performing the offices of  
maternal love1 in thickets ornamented   
with the rose and the woodbine40  ,sir  
,h4 ,davie's researches in natural      
history1 are exhibited in many parts of 
this interesting work1 and his          
suggestions with reference to the       
migration of animals1 will account for  
those phenomena1 which direct the       
operations of the sportsman whether     
armed with gun or rod4 ,he is of opinion
 that the two great causes of the change
 of place of animals is the providing of
 food for themselves and resting places 
and food for their young4 ,the great    
supposed migrations of herrings from the
 poles to the temperate zone1 he        
considers to be only the approach of    
successive shoals from deep to shallow  
water1 for the purpose of spawning4     
,the migrations of salmon and trout are 
evidently for the purpose of depositing 
their ova--or of finding food after they
 have spawned4  ,swallows and           
bee-eaters1 decidedly pursue flies half 

the globe over2 the snipe tribe in like 
manner1 search for worms and            
larv--flying from those countries where 
either frost or dryness prevents them   
from boring--making generally small     
flights at a time1 and resting on their 
travels where they find food4 ,a journey
 from ,england to ,africa is no more for
 an animal that can fly with the wind   
one hundred miles in an hour1 than a    
journey for a ,londoner to his seat in a
 distant province4  ,the migration of   
smaller fishes or birds always occasions
 the migration of larger ones1 that prey
 on them3--thus1 the seal follows the   
salmon in summer1 to the mouths of      
rivers--the hake follows the herring and
 pilchard--hawks are seen in great      
quantities in the month of ,may1 coming 
into the east of ,europe after quails   
and landrails--and locusts are followed 
by numerous birds1 that fortunately for 
the agriculturists1 make them their     
prey4  ,the reason of the migration of  
sea-gulls to the land is their security 

of finding food4 ,they may be observed1 
at this time1 feeding greedily on the   
earth worms and larv1 driven out of the 
ground by severe floods1 and the fish1  
on which they prey in fine weather in   
the sea1 leave the surface when storms  
prevail1 and go deeper4  ,the different 
tribes of the wading birds always       
migrate1 when rain is about to take     
place4 ,the vulture1 upon the same      
principle1 follows armies1 and there is 
little doubt1 that the augury of the    
ancients was a good deal founded upon   
the observation of the instinct of      
birds4 ,there are many superstitions of 
the vulgar1 owing to the same cause4    
,for anglers1 in spring1 it is always   
unlucky to see single magpies1 but two  
may be always regarded as a favorable   
omen2 and the reason is1 that in cold   
and stormy weather one magpie alone     
leaves the nest in search of food1 the  
other remaining sitting upon the eggs or
 the young ones2 but when two go out    
together1 the weather is warm and mild1 

and thus favorable to fishing4  ,i shall
 dismiss ,sir ,h4 ,davie for the        
present1 with the following remarks     
which he offers on the whale1 as they   
may be interesting to those who have    
remarked the comparatively easy capture 
of an animal1 possessed of such enormous
 strength and activity4  ,the whale1    
having no air-bladder1 can sink to the  
lowest depths of the ocean2 and         
mistaking the harpoon for the teeth of  
the sword fish or a shark1 he instantly 
descends1 this being his manner of      
freeing himself from these enemies1 who 
cannot bear the pressure of a deep      
ocean3 and from ascending and           
descending1 in a small space1 he puts   
himself in the power of the whaler2     
whereas1 if he knew his force1 and were 
to swim on the surface in a straight    
line1 he would break or destroy the     
machinery by which he is arrested1 as   
easily as a salmon breaks the single gut
 of a fisher1 whose reel is entangled4  
,mr4 ,scrope's work entitled 8,days and 

,nights of ,salmon fishing10 is most    
interesting2 his description of this    
enticing sport is so vivid1 and given   
with such spirit1 that even those who   
never saw a rod1 except that in         
,oxford-street with a golden perch      
hanging from its point and for ever     
turning on its axis2 or whose knowledge 
of fish is confined to the unfortunate  
inmates of a glass globe1 are led to    
take a lively interest in his various   
piscatory adventures1 and cease to      
wonder that some of the wisest and best 
of men have been enthusiastic admirers  
of the art4 ,his apology for fly fishing
 is ingenious1 and may be quoted when   
the angler is rallied by his            
tender-hearted neighbour4  8,i take a   
little wool and feather1 and tying it in
 a particular manner on a hook1 make an 
imitation of a fly2 then ,i throw it    
across the river1 and let it sweep round
 the stream with a lively motion4 ,this 
,i have an undoubted right to do2 for   
the river belongs to me or my           

friend1--but mark what follows4 ,up     
starts a monster fish1 with his         
murderous jaws1 and makes a dash at my  
little ,andromeda4 ,thus he is the      
aggressor1 not ,i2 his intention is     
evidently to commit murder4 ,he is      
caught in the act of putting that       
intention into execution4 ,having       
wantonly intruded himself on my hook1   
which ,i contend he had no right to do1 
he darts about in various directions1   
evidently surprised to find that the    
fly1 which he hoped to make an easy     
conquest of1 is much stronger than      
himself4 ,i naturally attempt to regain 
this fly1 unjustly withheld from me4    
,the fish gets tired and weak1 in his   
lawless attempts to deprive me of it4 ,i
 take advantage of his weakness1 ,i own1
 and drag him1 somewhat loth1 to the    
shore2 where one rap at the back of the 
head ends him in an instant4 ,if he is a
 trout1 ,i find his stomach distended   
with flies4 ,that beautiful one called  
the ,may fly1 who is by nature almost   

ephemeral--who rises up from the bottom 
of the shallows1 spreads its light      
wings1 and flits in the sunbeam1 in     
enjoyment of its new existence--no      
sooner descends to the surface of the   
water to deposit its eggs1 than the     
unfeeling fish1 at one fell spring1     
numbers him prematurely with the dead4  
,you see1 then1 what a wretch a fish is2
 no ogre is more blood thirsty1 for he  
will devour his nephews1 nieces1 and    
even his own children1 when he can catch
 them1 and ,i take some credit for      
having shown him up4 ,what a bitter     
fright must the smaller fry live in6    
,they crowd to the shallows1 lie hid    
among the weeds1 and dare not say the   
river is their own1 ,i relieve them of  
their apprehensions1 and thus become    
popular with the small shoals40  ,i must
 now hasten to offer those suggestions  
which ,i deem so requisite for the      
attainment of that popularity to which  
,mr4 ,,scrope alludes2 and although ,i  
may in some respects appear tedious1 ,i 

beg to assure the novice that a good    
day's fishing is often lost for lack of 
some trifling appendage1 and many a     
leviathan has escaped from the neglect  
of some simple rule4  ,the dress of a   
fisherman should be as sombre as        
possible--a darkish grey or lightish    
brown is probably the best1 as these    
colours assimilate with that of the bark
 of trees1 and the mosses and lichens   
which encrust the rocks4 ,shining metal 
buttons must be avoided4 ,laced boots or
 shoes and stout leather gaiters are    
needed1 as vipers resort to the rivers  
in warm weather1 and their teeth readily
 penetrate the unprotected stocking4 ,by
 the bye1 if the sportsman should       
unfortunately be bitten1 a little       
carbonate of soda1 or sweet oil should  
be applied to the part as speedily as   
possible4 ,i have found the former most 
efficacious when my dogs have been      
bitten by those reptiles4 ,our moors    
abound with them in ,august and         
,september2 it is well therefore to be  

provided with a bottle of these simple  
antidotes1 if a lengthened excursion is 
contemplated by the angler or shot4 ,a  
drab hat is preferable to black1        
especially in hot weather1 when the     
latter will be found to heat the head   
considerably more than the former4      
,worsted socks are less apt to chafe the
 feet than cotton1 and a small portion  
of yellow soap rubbed on the instep and 
heel will keep the feet in good order   
during the longest day's fag4  ,the next
 question is1 what is the fitting time  
for adopting this costume8 ,fishing may 
be pursued from the first week in ,march
 until the last week in ,october4       
,during the months of ,march1 ,april1   
,september1 and ,october1 from ten to   
three or four1 will be found the most   
profitable hours2 during the intervening
 months it is necessary1 to ensure      
sport1 to be early on the banks--from   
six to eleven1 and from three till dusk1
 are generally the best hours4 ,before  
starting1 be careful that your tackle is

 complete and in good order4 ,the rod1  
the fly-book1 the reel1 the basket1 must
 be examined1 that nothing be left      
behind4 ,it is justly considered one of 
the greatest miseries of life to find   
oneself1 after a long ride or walk1     
minus either the above articles4 ,these 
necessary appendages should be of the   
best quality1 to ensure which1 purchase 
them from a maker of known celebrity4   
,in the first place1 procure a          
twelve-foot rod1 which has a uniform    
even play2 avoid a cheap1 second rate   
article1 nine times out of ten it will  
be found to warp1 crack1 or snap off2 or
 if it escapes these calamities1 the    
ferrels will become loose1 or the rings 
through which the line passes will check
 or chafe it at every throw4 ,let your  
reel and line be of the best            
workmanship1 the size of the former and 
length of the latter the maker will     
inform you2 the twelve-foot rod         
indicates a narrow river1 requiring the 
other articles in proportion4 ,the      

casting lines should be seven or even   
eight feet long1 made of round gut1     
small by degrees1 and beautifully less  
to the end1 where the stream-fly is     
attached4 ,they must be stained light   
blue1 for clear2 brown1 for red or pale 
ale coloured water3 our rivers are      
frequently of this colour1 occasioned by
 the rain percolating through the bogs  
with which our moors abound4 ,never use 
more than two flies1 one at the end of  
the collar1 called the 8stream-fly10 the
 other about three feet from it1 called 
8the bob40 ,it may be as well to observe
 that when our rivers present the       
beerish appearance above described1 and 
the day is fine1 with occasional clouds1
 a good day's sport may generally be    
depended on4 ,the wind however must be  
consulted as well as the water--if the  
weathercock indicates any portion of    
,east wind1 relinquish the rod1 and seek
 some other occupation4 ,fish have a    
peculiar aversion to cold wind1 and will
 not be tempted to expose their noses   

within some distance of the surface2 the
 fly1 therefore1 though thrown with     
skill and judgment1 will sport on the   
water in profitless gambols4 ,a         
,southerly wind and a cloudy sky are as 
welcome to the fisherman as the         
fox-hunter3 indeed the wind in that     
quarter generally promises well for all 
field sports4 ,west1 if the weather is  
settled1 is also good2 but from ,w4 by  
,n4 to ,n4 by ,e4 it becomes less and   
less favorable4  ,the choice of flies is
 the next consideration3 as a general   
rule1 when the day is bright1 use a dark
 fly1 when gloomy1 a bright one4 ,the   
,devonshire and ,cornish fish are       
particular in their food--preferring    
simple1 plain viands2 hence ,i have     
often seen sportsmen unsuccessful in    
their efforts to move our trout--they   
present them with food which instinct   
tells them is not congenial2 they rise  
probably1 look at the monster1 and      
depart to rise no more4  ,neither do our
 fish desire much change of diet3 the   

flies enumerated on the annexed leaves  
are sufficient for all their wants1 and 
if thrown with skill1 will surely repay 
the labour4  ,purchase a ,russia leather
 fishing book for the reception of these
 gay deceivers4 ,i recommend this       
material1 because the moths will not    
intrude within its folds4 ,let the      
article be no larger than sufficient to 
carry a small collection of flies1 four 
casting lines1 a penknife1 and scissors 
to repair damages1 a skein of strong    
black silk1 and forget not a small piece
 of ,indian rubber1 with a piece of     
white tape attached thereto2 the former 
to pass your casting line over1 twice or
 thrice1 which immediately straightens  
it1 the latter enables you to recover   
the former1 if through carelessness it  
falls to the ground4  ,immediately above
 the flies1 when placed in their        
respective loops1 write their numbers   
and the period when they are to be used2
 this will save you much trouble1 and   
your friend also should he borrow the   

book4  ,each fly is entitled to a       
distinct appellation1 but it frequently 
happens that the dun of ,mr4 ,a4 differs
 materially from that of ,mr4 ,b42 thus 
the sportsman is disappointed in his    
application--when the packet arrives he 
scarcely recognises one of his old      
acquaintances4 ,to avoid this           
inconvenience1 ,i have adopted figures1 
and have furnished ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4         
,,alfred1 ,no4 #ed1 ,moorgate ,street1  
and #da1 ,coleman ,street2 ,messrs4     
,,ben4 ,,chevalier and ,co4 ,bell ,yard1
 ,temple ,bar1 ,london2 and ,mr4 ,j4 ,n4
 ,,hearder1 #bh1 ,buckwell ,street1     
,plymouth2 with full particulars4 ,those
 persons have engaged to keep a good    
stock on hand1 so by sending to either  
of them for any ,no4 required1 no       
mistake can arise4     ,no4 #a4         
,,february1 ,,march1 and ,,april1 at all
 times2 after rain1 at any time         
throughout the season4   ,no4 #b4       
,,february1 ,,march1 and ,,april4   ,no4
 #c4  ,a good fly through the season1   

especially on windy days4 ,makes an     
excellent bob4   ,no4 #d4  ,latter end  
of ,,february1 the entire of ,,march1   
and the early part of ,,april4   ,no4   
#e4  ,from the second week in ,,april to
 the end of the season1 particularly    
under bushes1 and on the moors4   ,no4  
#f4  ,for dark1 gloomy1 windy days1 from
 the middle of ,,march to the end of the
 season4   ,no4 #g4  ,good fly from the 
last week in ,,april to the first of    
,august1 in hot days especially4   ,no4 
#h4  ,in hot weather1 during the months 
of ,,may1 ,,june1 and ,,july1 no fly    
will equal it4   ,no4 #i4  ,excellent   
moor fly at all times4 ,makes a good    
bob1 particularly on chilly days4   ,no4
 #aj4  ,after rain throughout the       
season4 ,take this for the stream fly1  
and ,no4 #a1 for the bob1 where the     
waters are the colour of small beer4    
,no4 #aa4  ,latter end of ,,august1 all 
,,september1 to the third week in       
,,october4   ,no4 #ab4  ,very good moor 
fly1 especially in ,,march1 ,,april1 and

 ,,august4 ,use this for bob1 and ,no4  
#e1 for stream4   ,no4 #ac4  ,from the  
latter end of ,,may to the last week in 
,,august4 ,later in the season if the   
weather is warm4   ,no4 #ad4  ,in hot   
days1 in ,,may and ,,june1 a most       
killing fly4   ,no4 #ae4  ,a very       
superior fly in ,,june and ,,july1 or   
hot sultry days4 ,a good bob1 with ,no4 
#h1 as stream4   ,no4 #af4  ,in sultry  
weather1 after rain in ,,june1 ,,july1  
and beginning of ,,august4   ,no4 #ag4  
,from the second week in ,,june1 to the 
second week in ,,august1 a very certain 
killer in hot days4   ,no4 #ah4  ,a good
 fly from the second week in ,,july to  
the end of the season4 ,a superior bob  
on the moors4  ,illustration  ,a black  
fly with silver twist may occasionally  
be substituted for ,no4 #ac4 ,they are  
sold at all tackle makers4  ,the white  
moth is sold at all tackle makers1 and  
is a good fly on moon-light nights in   
,,june and ,,july4  ,although ,eighteen 
sorts are enumerated1 it is by no means 

necessary that the occasional fisherman 
should be provided with the full        
complement4  ,it will generally be found
 that ,nos4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #f1 #g1 #i1 #aj1
 #ac1 #ag1 are certain killers4 ,the    
others1 however1 must be procured by the
 more indefatigable sportsman2          
especially if he is undaunted by wind or
 weather4  ,every thing being now in    
readiness for a start1 be careful to    
commence fishing with the sun in your   
face1 and if possible1 keep it so during
 the day4 ,by adopting this precaution1 
the shadow of yourself and rod will not 
be cast upon the water1 and your        
presence consequently is less likely to 
be observed by the fish than if a       
contrary position were adopted4 ,let me 
urge the great importance of keeping out
 of sight of your prey as much as       
possible4 ,if the banks are high and    
open1 crouch down1 and if needs be1     
creep on1 as you would if a duck and    
mallard were the object of your pursuit1
 until you find you can command the pool

 in your prostrate position4 ,if bushes 
intervene1 of course you may approach   
with boldness3 less caution is also     
needed when the banks are nearly even   
with the surface of the water4  ,as a   
general rule1 ,i am in favour of fishing
 up the stream for trout2 the heads of  
the fish being always against the       
current1 their eyes are pointed in the  
same direction1 looking for flies1 c41  
which may be floating down on the       
surface2 your approach therefore is not 
so readily perceived1 and your fly when 
taken is pulled against the jaw1 and not
 from it as is often the case when      
fishing down the stream4 ,the casting   
the fly well and lightly is a knack     
which can only be acquired by           
experience4 ,the spring of the rod      
should do the chief work1 and not the   
labour of your arms4 ,to effect this1   
you should lay the stress as near the   
hand as possible1 and make the wood     
undulate from that point1 which is done 
by keeping the elbow in advance1 and    

doing something with the wrist which is 
not very easy to explain4 ,thus1 the    
exertion should be chiefly from the     
elbow and wrist1 and not from the       
shoulders4  ,a little practice will     
enable you to determine the length of   
line required to reach a given spot3    
until this knowledge is acquired1 rather
 throw too short than too long a line4  
,in the latter case1 it will bag in the 
water and scare the fish1 or if per     
chance one rises1 it will most probably 
escape1 before you have power to strike4
  ,the stream fly should fall lightly on
 the desired spot1 and the line1 being  
just of sufficient length to allow of   
the exact point being reached1 the bob  
fly will rest on the surface of the     
water1 and by imparting to the rod a    
slight tremulous motion1 from right to  
left1 the stream fly will appear to be  
struggling in the stream1 whilst the bob
 will occasionally bob up and down1     
7from which circumstance its name is    
derived7 exhibiting the movement of the 

natural fly1 when it alights1 rises1 and
 again alights4  ,after some experience1
 the eye will apprize you when the fish 
rises to seize the hook2 you are doubly 
prepared to strike1 if your line is on  
the stretch1 in which case1 you feel1 as
 well as see your prey4  ,striking1     
signifies a sudden jerk of the rod1 at  
the instant the fish has taken the hook1
 and forms a very important feature in  
the art of fishing4 ,if the jerk is too 
violent1 the hook will probably be torn 
from its hold1 or if it be too slight1  
the hook will not enter the jaw1 and the
 fish escapes4 ,the happy medium must be
 aimed at1 remembering that our small   
fish require gentler treatment1 than    
those of greater weight1 whose capacious
 mouths afford a firmer hold1 and may be
 treated with less ceremony4            
,illustration  ,commence by throwing the
 fly across the tail of the stickle1    
thus3--,a4 is the fisherman1 ,b4 ,b4 the
 banks of the river1 ,c4 the tail of the
 stickle1 ,d4 its commencement4 ,a4     

first throws his fly across to ,e4 then 
draws it with a kind of tremulous motion
 to ,f4 then to ,g4 and back to ,h4 ,a4 
then moves on1 and takes up his position
 at ,j4 casts over to ,k4 and across to 
,l4 tries again at ,m4 and hooks a fish4
 ,if it is small1 as too many of our    
,west ,country fish happen to be1 it may
 be raised instanter1 gently out of the 
water1 and deposited in the basket4 ,a4 
then advances a few paces1 and finishes 
the pool between ,m4 and ,d4  ,if by    
good luck a large fish is hooked1 don't 
attempt to jerk him out of the water1   
which frequently snaps the gut or tears 
the hook from its hold2 but to use a    
technical term1 8play him10 that is1 let
 him swim about with your fly well      
embodied in his jaw1 until he is        
sufficiently exhausted to enable you to 
take him out1 either by lifting him over
 the bank1 by taking the casting line in
 your hand1 or by drawing him upon the  
sand or gravel4 ,whilst the fish is     
engaged in endeavouring to rid itself of

 the disagreeable customer in its mouth1
 be careful to maintain a steady1       
uniform strain1 upon the line2 don't    
jerk at one time and slack at another4  
,if the fish is unusually large1 the    
butt of your rod must be held forward1  
which throws the point back2 and thus   
the line presses against the entire     
length of the rod1 and offers greater   
opposition to the fish than if the top  
were kept down and the butt up4 ,the    
following hints1 from the pen of an     
experienced fisherman1 are deserving    
special notice4  8,if your fish misses  
the fly in making his offer1 wait awhile
 before you throw a second time1 and if 
he rises at all1 he will come more      
greedily for this delay4 ,when he       
returns to his seat1 after the          
unsuccessful sortie1 he will say        
mentally1 #8,what a donkey ,i was to be 
so awkward6 ,by ,st4 ,antonio1 if he    
comes again1 ,i'll smash him6' ,but if  
you keep lashing away at him            
immediately1 he will probably treat you 

with contempt1 and will have no         
intercourse with your gay deluders for  
the rest of the day4 ,it is some time1  
perhaps1 since he has taken up his seat 
in the water1 without ever having seen  
an animal like that which you are so    
obliging as to tender him2 all of a     
sudden come a swarm of locusts1 as it   
were1 one after another over his nob1   
which astonish and alarm him            
exceedingly4 ,thus1 it is apparent that 
you do not do justice to his sagacity1  
or instinct1 or whatever you please to  
call it1 if you set to work in such an  
intrusive manner40  ,the preceding hints
 on trout fishing may with some         
exceptions1 be adopted by the salmon and
 salmon peal fisher2 before ,i proceed  
however to offer a few observations on  
the mode of fishing for these fish1 a   
brief notice of the natural history of  
the trout may not be unacceptable4  ,the
 common trout is an inhabitant of most  
of the rivers and lakes of ,great       
,britain4 ,it is a voracious feeder and 

is vigilant1 cautious1 and active4      
,during the day1 the larger sized fish  
move little from their accustomed       
haunts1 but towards evening and during  
the night1 they rove in search of small 
fish1 insects1 and their various larv1  
upon which they feed with eagerness4    
,the young trout fry may be seen        
throughout the day1 sporting in the     
shallow gravelly scours of the stream1  
where the want of sufficient depth of   
water1 or the greater caution of larger 
and older fish prevent their appearance4
 ,though vigilant and cautious in the   
extreme1 the trout is also bold1 and    
active4 ,a pike and a trout put into a  
confined place together1 had several    
battles for a particular spot1 but the  
trout was eventually the master4 ,this  
fish varies considerably in appearance  
in different localities2 so much so1 as 
to induce a belief that several species 
exist4 ,lord ,home1 however1 who has    
paid much attention to the subject1     
remarks1 8,i am much inclined to think  

there is but one kind of river trout2   
the large lake trout may be different40 
,sir ,wm4 ,jardine1 in a paper on       
,salmonid1 has described at considerable
 length1 the variations observable in   
the trout of some of the lakes of       
,sutherlandshire4 ,the fish in these    
lakes are reddish1 dark1 or silvery1    
according to the clearness of the water4
  ,mr4 ,neil1 in his tour1 notices the  
black moss trout of ,loch ,knitching1   
and ,loch ,katrine1 is said to abound   
also with small black trout2 an effect  
considered to be produced in some waters
 by receiving the drainage of boggy     
moors4 ,in streams that flow rapidly    
over gravelly or rocky bottoms1 the     
trout are remarkable for the brilliancy 
and beauty of their spots and colours4  
,thus1 in our immediate neighbourhood1  
we find that the trout caught between   
,shaugh ,bridge and ,plym ,steps1 on the
 river ,cad1 are generally very dark1   
approaching in some instances almost to 
a black2 whilst on the ,tavy1 below     

,denham ,bridge1 they will be found of a
 light silvery hue2 so also on the      
,yealm--those taken below ,lee ,mill    
,bridge1 are of a bright sparkling      
appearance1 whilst others caught in     
,horns and ,dendles1 or on the moor     
above1 are generally very dark1 and in  
some of the pools which seldom enjoy the
 rays of the sun1 are almost black4     
,the author of the 8,wild ,sports of the
 ,west of ,ireland0 remarks1 8,i never  
observed the effect of bottom soil upon 
the quality of fish so strongly marked  
as in the trout taken in a small lake1  
in the county of ,monaghan4 ,the water  
is a long irregular sheet1 of no great  
depth3 one shore bounded by a bog1 the  
other1 by a dry and gravelly surface4   
,on the bog side1 the trout are of the  
dark and shapeless species peculiar to  
moory loughs1 while the other affords   
the beautiful and sprightly variety1    
generally inhabiting rapid and sandy    
streams4 ,narrow as the lake is1 the    
fish appear to confine themselves to    

their respective limits3 the red trout  
being never found upon the bog moiety of
 the lake1 nor the black where the under
 surface is hard gravel40  ,sir ,h4     
,davie gives the following account of   
their spawning2 and his remarks on some 
of the flies upon which they feed will  
be found interesting4  8,trout spawn or 
deposit their ova and seminal fluid in  
the end of ,autumn or beginning of      
,winter1 from the middle of ,november   
till the beginning of ,january3 this    
materially depending upon the           
temperature of the season1 their        
quantity of food1 c4 ,for some time 7a  
month or six weeks7 before they are     
prepared for the sexual functions1 or   
that of reproduction1 they become less  
fat1 particularly the females1 the large
 quantity of eggs and their size1       
probably affecting the health of the    
animal1 and compressing generally the   
vital organs in the abdomen4 ,they are  
at least six weeks or two months after  
they have spawned before they recover   

their flesh1 and the time when these    
fish are at the worst1 is likewise the  
worst time for fly fishing1 both on     
account of the cold weather and because 
there are fewer flies on the water than 
at any other season4 ,even in ,december 
and ,january there are a few small      
gnats1 or water flies on the water in   
the middle of the day1 in bright days or
 when there is sunshine4 ,these are     
generally black1 and they escape the    
influence of the frost1 by the effects  
of light on their black bodies--and     
probably1 by the extreme rapidity of the
 motions of their fluids1 and generally 
of their organs4 ,they are found only on
 the surface of the water1 where the    
temperature must be above the freezing  
point4  8,in ,february a few double     
winged water flies1 which swim down the 
stream1 are usually found in the middle 
of the day--such as the willow fly1 and 
the cow-dung fly is sometimes carried on
 the water by winds4 ,in ,march there   
are several flies found on most rivers1 

and in ,april1 the blue and browns come 
on--the first in dark days--the second  
in bright4 ,these lay their eggs in the 
water1 which produce larv that remain in
 the state of worms1 feeding and        
breathing in the water1 till they are   
prepared for their metamorphosis1 and   
quit the bottoms of the rivers1 and the 
mud1 and stone1 for the surface1 and the
 light and air4  8,the brown fly usually
 disappears before the end of           
,april--but of the blue dun there is a  
succession of different tints1 or       
species1 or varieties1 which appear all 
the summer and autumn long4 ,the excess 
of heat seems equally unfavorable1 as   
the excess of cold1 to the existence of 
the smaller species of water insect1    
which during the intensity of sunshine  
seldom appear in summer1 but rise       
morning and evening4 ,towards the end of
 ,august the ephemera appear again in   
the middle of the day4 ,to attempt to   
describe all the variety that sport on  
the surface of the water at different   

times of the day1 throughout the year1  
would be quite an endless labour4 ,some 
of them appear to live only a few hours1
 none have their existence protracted to
 more than a few days4 ,of the beetle1  
there are many varieties fed on by      
fishes4--,these insects are bred from   
eggs1 which they deposit in the ground1 
or in the excrement of animals4 ,the    
cock-chafer1 the fern fly1 and gray     
beetle1 are common in our meadows in the
 summer1 but there is hardly any insect 
that flies1 including the wasp1 the     
hornet1 the bee1 and the butter-fly1    
that does not become at sometime1 the   
prey of fishes40  ,mr4 ,stoddart        
mentions an interesting experiment made 
with trout some years ago1 in the ,south
 of ,england1 in order to ascertain the 
value of different food4 8,fish were    
placed in three separate tanks1 one of  
which was supplied daily with worms1    
another with live minnows1 and the third
 with those small dark coloured water   
flies1 which are to be found moving     

about on the surface1 under banks1 and  
sheltered places4 ,the trout fed with   
worms grew slowly1 and had a lean       
appearance2 those nourished on minnows1 
which it was observed they darted at    
with great avidity1 became much larger2 
while1 such as were fattened1 upon flies
 only1 attained in a small time1        
prodigious dimensions1 weighing twice as
 much as both the others together1      
although the quantity of food swallowed 
by them was in nowise so great40  ,in   
the new ,sporting ,magazine for ,nov41  
#ahdj1 a writer on fishes says1 8,an    
acutely-observing friend of mine1 who   
has paid great attention to the growth  
of trout1 states that they are rarely   
visible the first year1 that they       
congregate with minnows and other small 
fry2 the second1 are found on shallows2 
the third summer1 about seven or eight  
inches long2 and subsequently increase  
rapidly to a pound or a pound and a     
half1 dependent on the quantity and     
quality of their food1 the season1 and  

other circumstances40  ,this gentleman  
has for years kept trout in a kind of   
store stream1 and having fed them with  
every kind of food1 has had some of them
 increase from one pound to ten pound in
 four years4  ,steven ,oliver1 in his   
agreeable scenes and recollections of   
fly fishing1 mentions a trout taken in  
the neighbourhood of ,great ,driffield1 
in ,september1 #ahcb1 which measured    
thirty-one inches in length1 twenty-one 
in girth1 and weighed seventeen pounds4 
,a few years since1 a notice was sent to
 the ,linnan ,society1 of a trout that  
was caught on the #aath ,january1 #ahbb1
 in a little stream1 ten feet wide1     
branching from the ,avon1 at the back of
 ,castle-street1 ,salisbury4 ,on being  
taken out of the water1 its weight was  
found to be twenty-five pounds4 ,mrs4   
,powell1 at the bottom of whose garden  
the fish was first discovered1 placed it
 in a pond1 where it lived some time4   
,the age to which trout may arrive1 has 
not been ascertained4 ,mr4 ,oliver      

mentions that in ,august1 #ahji1 a trout
 died which had been for twenty-eight   
years an inhabitant of the well1 in     
,dumbarton ,castle4  ,a trout died in   
#ahbf1 which had lived #ec years in a   
small well in the orchard of ,mr4       
,william ,mossop1 of ,board ,hall1 near 
,broughton1 in ,furness4  ,the trout in 
our streams rarely exceed a pound in    
weight3 this may1 in some degree1 be    
accounted for from the circumstance1    
that the ,devon and ,cornish rivers are 
very rapid1 consequently1 the insects   
which fall from the bushes1 are carried 
so swiftly down the stream1 that whilst 
a fish is engaged in seizing on one1 the
 others pass rapidly by3 the same       
remarks may1 in times of flood1 apply to
 worms1 c4 ,in more tranquil rivers a   
fly seldom escapes2 it lights1 or is    
blown on the water1 is immediately      
espied1 and the fish1 whilst occupied in
 seizing one1 has half-a-dozen in his   
eye1 each awaiting his leisure in calm  
repose4 ,that our trout will increase   

rapidly1 under favorable circumstances1 
,i can testify from my own experience4  
,i knew several that were placed in a   
pond1 in ,august1 which averaged from   
eight to ten ounces2 in the ,july       
following1 ,i caught the same fish with 
a fly1 which averaged from one pound to 
one pound and a half4  ,before taking   
leave of trout1 ,i must notice a fly    
which may be used with success after    
sunset1 in the months of ,july and      
,august4 ,it is called the white moth1  
and has often given me sport as late as 
ten and eleven on fine moon-light       
nights4 ,choose an open place on a      
tranquil portion of the river2 the fly  
may be thrown with less nicety than in  
the day-time1 and catching a fish does  
not alarm the neighbouring fry1 who will
 frequently seize the moth immediately  
after the water has been disturbed by   
the efforts of the captured fish to rid 
itself from the hook4  ,fly-fishing for 
salmon is seldom pursued in these       
counties4 ,the fish meets with such a   

host of formidable enemies as soon as it
 quits the sea1 that comparatively few  
ascend our rivers4 ,the intent of the   
proprietors of our fisheries appears to 
be the annihilation of this prince of   
fishes4 ,the most impracticable weirs   
are constructed1 over which it is almost
 impossible for a fish to leap2 in the  
pools immediately below1 the rapacious  
fisherman casts his net every tide2     
whilst above1 if perchance a fish does  
succeed in evading the cunning of his   
netting foes1 a host of spearmen are on 
watch by night1 as well as by day1 to   
immolate the persecuted wanderer4  ,laws
 exist1 restricting the capture of      
salmon1 within certain months2 but that 
which in this case is truly everybody's 
business1 is considered nobody's2       
consequently1 in season and out of      
season are they caught1 sold1 and       
devoured1 as openly as if no penalties  
were incurred by the act4 ,that food1   
which under proper regulation would soon
 become abundant and reasonable1 can    

only now be placed on the tables of the 
affluent4  ,the preservation of salmon  
,i hold to be a question of national    
importance2 so much so1 that ,i consider
 conservators should be appointed to    
protect them1 as well from the unlawful 
proceedings of the owners of fisheries1 
as from the unscrupulous acts of the    
poacher4 ,weirs should be so constructed
 as to admit of their ascending whenever
 the waters are swollen by floods2      
hutches should be kept open at least    
forty-eight hours during the week4      
,besides the perils which await the     
parents on their journey from the sea1  
their young are also in imminent danger 
on their route towards the sea4 ,the    
millers take them in traps1 by          
thousands1 and dispose of them by the   
gallon to the neighbours2 indeed1 at    
times they are taken in such vast       
quantities that pigs are regaled upon   
their delicate flesh4  ,man is not      
content with employing his own ingenuity
 in capturing this delicious fish1 he   

calls to his aid the sagacity of the    
dog1 which we find becomes1 by practice1
 as expert a fisherman as his master3   
numerous instances of this are on       
record4 ,the following are              
well-established facts3--,in the work by
 the ,reverend ,william ,hamilton1 an   
interesting account is related of the   
assistance afforded by a water-dog to   
some salmon fishermen1 when working nets
 in shallow pools4 ,the dog takes his   
post in a ford where the water is not   
very deep1 and at a distance below the  
net2 if a salmon escapes the net1 the   
fish makes a shoot down the river1 in   
the direction towards the sea2 the dog  
watches1 and marks his approach by the  
ripple on the water1 and endeavours to  
turn the fish back towards the net1 or  
catch him2 if he fails in both attempts1
 the dog then quits the water1 in which 
the pace of the fish is too fast for    
him1 and runs with all his speed down   
the bank to intercept the fish at the   
next shallow ford1 where another        

opportunity1 and a second diverting     
attempt1 occurs4  ,dogs are occasionally
 used in ,glamorganshire1 when trying   
for salmon4 ,they appear to take great  
pleasure in the pursuit1 exhibiting by  
turns the most patient watchfulness1    
persevering exertion1 or extraordinary  
sagacity1 as either quality may best    
effect the wishes of the master4  ,in   
some parts of ,wales1 where the rivers  
are narrow1 the salmon are caught in a  
net drawn by men on each bank2 dogs are 
trained to swim over from side to side1 
with the head and ground lines of the   
net1 as required4  ,a clever poacher at 
,totnes1 allows that he has killed many 
salmon in the night1 on the ,dart1 by   
setting a trammel net at the lower end  
of the deep pools1 by sending in a dog  
at the upper end of the pool1 which dog 
he had trained to dive like an otter4   
,the fish1 as soon as the dog dived1    
immediately dashed down the stream1 and 
were taken in the net at the lower end  
of the pool4  ,the ,earl of ,home1 in a 

letter to the ,earl of ,montague1 dated 
#ajth ,january1 #ahcg1 relates the      
following history of a ,newfoundland    
dog1 which belonged to his uncle4 ,he   
knew the ,monday mornings as well as the
 fishermen themselves1 and used to go to
 the mill dam at ,fireburn ,mill1 on    
these mornings4 ,he there took his      
station1 at the opening in the dam1 to  
allow the salmon to pass1 and has been  
known to kill from #ab to #bj salmon in 
a morning3 the fish he took to the side4
 ,the then ,lord ,tankerville instituted
 a process against the dog4 ,this case  
was brought before the ,court of        
,session1 and the process was entitled1 
8,the ,earl of ,tankerville versus a    
dog1 the property of the ,earl of       
,home40 ,judgment was given in favor of 
the dog4  ,hoping the time may arrive1  
when the salmon in our rivers will      
afford similar opportunities for the    
display of canine sagacity1 ,i shall1 in
 anticipation of such good days1 proceed
 to offer a few brief hints1 which our  

grand-children may find useful1 when    
tempted by a strong breeze and a dark   
gloomy sky1 to cast the fly over a      
salmon run4  ,follow the advice given   
with reference to the purchase of trout 
tackle2 go to the best1 which you will  
find the cheapest market4  ,let the     
manufacturer know the average width of  
the river1 and he will provide the rod1 
c41 accordingly4  ,in the selection of  
your flies1 be guided by the suggestions
 of a local fisherman--obtain patterns1 
and get them fac-similied by a          
well-reputed maker1 whose hooks are     
known to stand a long-contested         
struggle4  ,commence fishing at the head
 of the pool ,z41 instead of at the     
tail1 as in trout fishing4  ,throw the  
fly directly across the river1 from     
where the fisherman stands at ,a41 to   
,b4 ,let it sink a little below the     
surface2 then guide it from ,b4 to ,g41 
forming the segment of a circle2 give   
it1 during this passage1 a jerking or   
sliding motion1 such as water-spiders   

exhibit when sporting on still pools by 
the side of rivers2 at each jerk draw   
the fly gently towards you1 two feet or 
two and a half for salmon1 seven or ten 
inches for peal4 ,for instance1 your fly
 having lighted at ,b41 draw it to ,c41 
then pause a moment1 when the stream    
will carry it down to ,d4 again2 draw it
 to ,e41 and let it fall back to ,f42   
pursue the same process until the curve 
from ,b4 to ,g4 is completed4 ,by giving
 this motion to the fly1 it appears to  
be struggling against the stream4 ,in   
drawing it towards you the wings        
collapse1 when you pause they expand4   
,illustration  ,having cast five or six 
times from ,b4 to ,g41 move on a few    
paces1 and throw over to ,h41 forming a 
curve to ,i41 and so on until the pool  
is carefully tried4  ,if a fish has been
 moved1 note the place1 and try him     
again in a few minutes4 ,be careful1 not
 to throw immediately over the spot     
where he rose2 but let the fly approach 
him in one of the glides made in the    

curve4 ,should the fish then take the   
fly1 don't strike directly1 but allow a 
second or two to intervene1 when you    
will find the fish well hooked4 ,don't  
be frightened--keep perfectly cool--hold
 your rod well back1 the butt end rather
 from you2 indulge the fish with as much
 line as he requires1 taking care       
however to bear well and steadily       
against him1 so that he encounters much 
resistance in drawing the line over the 
rod and off the reel4 ,when the fish    
slackens his pace1 reel up as much of   
your line as you can do with safety2    
this economy may be most useful when he 
again rushes off4 ,the length of time   
occupied in playing the salmon depends  
somewhat upon the nature of the adjacent
 banks1 and also upon the size and      
disposition of the fish1 some being more
 lively than others2 and a small fish   
will frequently afford better sport than
 one of twice or thrice its weight4  ,a 
gaff1 or landing net1 is necessary1 as  
no gut will stand the strain of lifting 

a large fish out of the water4 ,the     
foregoing remarks will be found         
applicable to peal fishing1 which may be
 obtained in some of our rivers1 and is 
justly considered very excellent sport4 
,to enter more into the detail of this  
amusement is not my present intention1  
,i must be content with this rough      
sketch1 leaving others to complete the  
picture4 ,it is proper however to       
remark1 that the flies used in peal     
fishing are about twice the size of     
those used for trout3 they should be    
purchased under the advice of an        
experienced fisherman1 as they differ   
materially from these which are         
applicable to the ,irish and other      
rivers4  ,the ingenuity of the sportsman
 has been taxed to vary the means of    
capturing the salmon4 ,sometimes they   
are shot whilst leaping the weirs1 at   
others they are speared by torch lights 
from the banks of rivers1 or from boats4
 ,the otter has been trained to catch   
and bring the fish to his master2 and1  

in 8,red ,gauntlet10 we find a lively   
sketch of a salmon chase1 which is thus 
described by ,darsie ,latimer1 in one of
 his letters to ,allan ,fairford4  8,the
 scene was animated by the exertions of 
a number of horsemen1 who were employed 
in hunting salmon4 ,aye1 ,alan1 lift up 
your hands and eyes as you will1 ,i can 
give their mode of fishing no name so   
appropriate1 for they chased the fish at
 full gallop1 and struck them with their
 barbed spears1 as you see hunters      
spearing boars in the old tapestry4 ,the
 salmon1 to be sure1 take the thing more
 quietly than the boars2 but they are so
 swift in their own element1 that to    
pursue and strike them is the task of a 
good horseman with a quick eye1 a       
determined hand1 and a full command both
 of his horse and weapon4 ,the shouts of
 the fellows1 as they galloped up and   
down in the animating exercise--their   
loud bursts of laughter1 when any of    
their number caught a fall--and still   
louder acclamations1 when any of the    

party made a capital stroke with his    
lance--gave so much animation to the    
whole scene1 that ,i caught the         
enthusiasm of the sport1 and ventured   
forward a considerable space on the     
sands40  ,in the ,arms of the city of   
,glasgow1 and in those of the see1 a    
salmon1 with a ring in its mouth1 is    
said to record a miracle of ,st4        
,kentigern1 the founder of the see1 and 
the first ,bishop of ,glasgow4  8,they  
report10 says ,spotswood1 8that a lady  
of good place1 in the country1 having   
lost her ring in crossing the ,clyde1   
and her husband waxing jealous1 as if   
she had bestowed the same on one of her 
lovers1 she did mean herself unto       
,kentigern2 entreating his help for the 
safety of her honour2 and that he1 going
 to the river after he had used his     
devotions1 willed one1 who was making to
 fish1 to bring him the first fish that 
was caught1 which was done4 ,in the     
mouth of this fish1 he found the ring1  
and sending it to the lady1 she was     

thereby freed of her husband's          
suspicion40  ,the classical tale of     
,polycrates related by ,herodotus1 a    
thousand years before the tale of ,st4  
,kentigern1 is perhaps the earliest     
version of the fish and the ring4 8,this
 ring10 says ,herodotus1 8was an emerald
 set in gold1 and beautifully engraved20
 and this very ring ,pliny relates1 was 
preserved in the ,temple of ,concord1 in
 ,rome1 to which it was given by the    
,emperor ,augustus4  ,it is somewhat    
singular1 that the ,natural ,history of 
a fish1 which constitutes so important  
an article of commerce--that adds so    
much to the wealth of a country where it
 abounds--that forms so nutricious and  
delicate a food--that affords an        
amusement which rivals that truly       
,british sport of fox-hunting1 should   
have remained for centuries in          
considerable obscurity4  ,of late1      
,jardine1 ,shaw1 ,scrope1 and others1   
have investigated the subject with much 
success2 still1 many points require     

further elucidation1 especially with    
reference to the causes which induce    
this fish to quit its more congenial    
quarters1 and resort to the fresh water1
 which is evidently distasteful to them1
 as they decrease in weight and become  
much weakened after they have frequented
 the rivers a few months4  ,some of the 
recent experiments1 touching the young  
of the salmon1 are very curious1 and    
exhibit much patient and minute enquiry4
  ,mr4 ,scrope1 in his very interesting 
work entitled 8,days and ,nights of     
,salmon ,fishing10 observes1 8,this     
splendid fish leaves the sea and comes  
up the ,tweed at every period of the    
year1 in greater or lesser quantities1  
becoming more abundant in the river as  
the summer advances4 ,it travels        
rapidly1 so that those salmon which     
leave the sea1 and go up the ,tweed on  
the ,saturday night1 at twelve o'clock1 
7after which time no nets are worked    
till the sabbath is passed7 are found   
and taken on the following ,monday1 near

 ,st4 ,boswell's1 a distance1 as the    
river winds1 of about forty miles4 ,when
 the strength of the current is         
considered1 and also the sinuous course 
a fish must take1 in order to avoid the 
strong rapids1 this power of swimming is
 most extraordinary40  ,as salmon are   
supposed to enter a river merely for the
 purpose of spawning1 and as that       
process does not take place till        
,september1 one cannot well account for 
their appearing in some rivers so early 
as ,february1 and ,march1 seeing that   
they lose in weight and condition during
 their continuance in fresh water4 ,some
 suppose it is to get rid of the sea    
louse1 but this supposition must be set 
aside1 when it is known that this insect
 adheres only to a portion of the newly 
run fish1 which are in the best         
condition4 ,i think it more probable    
they are driven from the coasts near the
 river by the numerous enemies they     
encounter there--such as porpoises1 and 
seals1 which devour them in great       

quantities2 however this may be1 they   
remain in the fresh water till the      
spawning months begin4 ,in the cold     
months1 they lie in deep and easy water1
 and as the season advances1 they draw  
into the principal rough streams1 always
 lying in places1 where they can be     
least easily discovered4 ,they prefer   
lying upon even rock1 or behind large   
blocks of stone1 particularly such as   
are of a colour similar to themselves4  
,at every rise of the river from floods1
 the fish move upwards1 nearer the      
spawning places1 so that no one can     
reckon on preserving his particular part
 of the river1 which is the chief reason
 of the universal destruction of those  
valuable animals4 ,previous to a flood1 
the fish frequently leap out of the     
water1 either for the purpose of filling
 their air bladder1 to make them more   
buoyant for travelling2 or from         
excitement2 or perhaps to exercise their
 powers of ascending heights and        
cataracts in the course of their journey

 upwards4 ,mr4 ,yarrell places their    
power of leaping at ten or twelve feet  
perpendicularly1 but ,i do not think ,i 
ever saw one spring out of the water    
above five or six feet4 ,large fish can 
spring much higher than small ones2 but 
their powers are limited or augmented1  
according to the depth of water they    
spring from4 ,they rise rapidly from the
 bottom of the water to the surface1 by 
means of rowing and sculling1 as it     
were1 with their fins and tails2 and    
this powerful impetus bears them upwards
 in the air1 on the same principle that 
a few tugs of the oar make a boat shoot 
onwards1 after one has ceased to row4   
,the fish pass every practicable        
obstruction till they arrive at the     
spawning ground2 some early1 some late  
in the season4 ,the principal spawning  
months are ,december1 ,january1 and     
,february2 but in some rivers the season
 is much earlier4  ,salmon are led by   
instinct to select such places for      
depositing their spawn1 as are least    

likely to be effected by the floods4    
,these are the broad parts of the river1
 where the water runs swift and shallow1
 and has a free passage over an even    
bed4 ,here they either select an old    
spawning place1 or form a fresh one1    
which is made by the female4 ,some      
fancy1 that the elongation of the lower 
jaw in the male1 which is somewhat in   
the form of a crook1 is designed by     
nature to enable him to excavate the    
spawning trough2 certainly it is        
difficult to divine what may be the use 
of this very ugly excrescence1 but      
observation has proved that this idea is
 a fallacy1 and that the male never     
assists in making the spawning place4   
,when the female first commences making 
her spawning bed1 she generally comes   
after sun set1 and goes off in the      
morning3 she works up the gravel with   
her snout1 her head pointing against the
 stream1 and she arranges the position  
of the loose gravel with her tail4 ,when
 this is done1 the male makes his       

appearance in the evenings1 according to
 the usage of the female2 he then       
remains close by her1 on the side on    
which the water is deepest4 ,when the   
female is in the act of emitting her    
ova1 she turns upon her side1 with her  
face to the male1 who never moves4 ,the 
female runs her snout into the gravel   
and forces herself under it as much as  
she possibly can1 when an attentive     
observer may see the red spawn coming   
from her4 ,the male1 in his turn1 lets  
his milt go over the spawn1 and this    
process goes on for some days1 more or  
less1 according to the size of the fish1
 and consequent quantity of the eggs4   
,if a strange male interferes1 the      
original one chases him with great fury1
 and in their combats1 frequently       
inflict great injury upon each other4   
,when the female has spawned1 she sets  
off and leaves the place2 the male      
remains1 waiting for another female1 and
 if none comes in twenty-four hours1 he 
goes away in search of another spawning 

place4  ,when the spawning is finished1 
the fish become very lank and weak1 and 
fall into deep easy water4 ,here1 after 
a time1 their strength is recruited1    
when as the spring advances1 the        
strongest fish leave the depths and draw
 into the streams4 ,they now move down  
the river in their passage to the sea4  
,when they arrive in the deep pools1    
near the mouths of the rivers1 they take
 rest for a few days2 here they may be  
caught by anglers1 as they take the fly 
and other baits freely4 ,march is       
usually the best month for this         
sport--if indeed1 it can be called      
sport1 to kill an animal that is worth a
 mere trifle and resists but little4    
,having now dispatched the salmon to the
 sea1 it remains to explain what becomes
 of the spawn1 and how1 and when1 the   
young fry arrive at maturity2 and as    
there have been various doubts and      
contradictions on this subject1 ,i think
 it more prudent to lead the reader to a
 consideration of the following pages1  

than to make a positive assertion on my 
own unsupported authority4  ,up to a    
late period1 it was universally thought 
that the spawn deposited1 as described  
above1 was matured in a brief time1 and 
that the young fry of the winter grew to
 six or seven inches long2 were silver  
in colour2 and went down to the sea in  
this state with the first floods1 early 
in the ,may of the coming spring4  ,mr4 
,shaw's ingenious experiments1 which    
have been continued with the greatest   
care and attention for a long period1   
disprove the correctness of this        
opinion4 ,this gentleman constructed    
three ponds1 the banks so raised1 and   
otherwise formed in such a manner1 that 
it was impossible for any fish to       
escape1 or for any other fish to have   
access to them4 ,on the #dth of         
,january1 #ahcg1 some fresh spawn was   
deposited in one of these ponds1 on the 
#bhth of ,april1 one hundred and        
fourteen days after impregnation1 the   
young salmon were excluded from the egg4

 ,on the #bdth of ,may1 twenty-seven    
days after being hatched1 the young fish
 had consumed the yolk which remains    
attached to the lower part of the body1 
and which serves them for nourishment2  
the characteristic bars of the parr had 
then become distinctly visible4 ,from an
 unforeseen accident1 his experiments   
upon this brood were abruptly           
terminated4 ,with a second1 however1 he 
was more fortunate4 ,on the #bgth       
,january1 #ahcg1 he deposited some spawn
 in one of his ponds2 on the #bast      
,march1 the embryo fish were visible to 
the naked eye4 ,from a minute           
inspection1 he found that they had some 
appearance of animation1 from a very    
minute streak of blood which appeared to
 traverse for a short distance the      
interior of the egg1 originating near   
two small dark spots1 not larger than   
the point of a pin4 ,these two spots    
ultimately turned out to be the eyes of 
the embryo fish4 ,on the #gth ,may1 7one
 hundred and one days after             

impregnation7 they had burst the        
envelope1 and were found among the      
shingle in the stream2 at this period   
the head is larger in proportion to the 
body1 which is exceedingly small1 and   
measures about five-eighths of an inch  
in length2 of a pale blue or peach      
blossom colour4 ,but the most singular  
part of the fish is the conical1 bag    
like appearance1 which adheres by its   
base to the abdomen4 ,this bag is about 
two-eighths of an inch in length1 of a  
beautiful transparent red1 very much    
resembling a light red currant4 ,the    
body also presents another singular     
appearance1 namely1 a fin or fringe1    
resembling that of the tail of the      
tadpole1 which runs from the dorsal and 
anal fins to the termination of the     
tail1 and is slightly indented4 ,this   
little fish does not leave the gravel   
immediately after its exclusion from the
 egg1 but remains for some time beneath 
it1 with the bag attached1 which        
contains its supply of nourishment4  ,on

 the #bdth ,june1 ,mr4 ,shaw found the  
bag had disappeared1 but the symmetry of
 the form was as yet but imperfect4 ,at 
the end of two months1 7#gth ,july7 the 
shape was much improved4 ,at the age of 
four months 7#gth ,september7 the       
characteristic marks of the parr or     
samlet were partly developed4 ,two      
months later 7six months old #gth       
,november7 the average length was three 
inches4 ,on the #ajth ,may1 #ahch1 the  
fish being then twelve months old1 were 
improved in condition1 and measured four
 inches3 they had changed their winter  
coating for that which may be called    
their summer dress4 ,on the approach of 
autumn1 the whole of the salmonid1 while
 resident in fresh water1 acquire a     
dusky exterior1 accompanied by a        
considerable increase of mucus or slime4
 ,as the summer advanced1 they continued
 to increase in size2 and on the #adth  
,november1 being then eighteen months   
old1 they measured six inches in length1
 and had attained that stage1 when all  

the external markings of the parr are   
strikingly developed4 ,on the #bjth     
,may1 #ahci1 the fish being then two    
years old1 they measured six inches and 
a half long1 and had assumed the        
migratory state4  ,this change commenced
 about the middle of the previous       
,april2 the caudal1 pectoral1 and dorsal
 fins assuming a dusky margin1 while the
 whole of the fish exhibited symptoms of
 a silvery exterior1 as well as an      
increased elegance of form4  ,the       
specimens in question1 so recently a    
parr1 exhibited a perfect example of the
 salmon fry1 or smolt4 ,mr4 ,shaw having
 thus traced the spawn of the salmon up 
to this point1 it will now be necessary 
to pursue our inquiries until we find   
the matured fish4 ,the descent of these 
little fish takes place much about the  
same time in all rivers1 commencing in  
,march1 and continuing through ,april1  
and part of ,may4 ,they first keep in   
the slack water1 by the side of the     
river2 after a time1 as they become     

stronger1 they go more towards the      
mid-stream2 and when the water is       
increased by rain1 they move gradually  
down the river4 ,on meeting the tide1   
they remain for two or three days1 in   
that part where the water becomes a     
little brackish from the mixture of salt
 water1 till they are inured to the     
change1 when they go off to the sea all 
at once4 ,there their growth is very    
rapid1 and many return to the brackish  
water1 increased in size1 in proportion 
to the time they have been absent4 ,fry1
 which were marked in ,april and ,may1  
have been caught on their return at the 
end of ,june1 weighing from two to three
 pounds in weight4 ,these are sold in   
our markets as salmon peal1 when of a   
larger size they are called gilse4 ,a   
second visit to the sea gives these     
another increase1 when they return to   
the rivers as salmon4  ,by the term     
8gilse10 is meant young salmon that have
 only been to the sea once4 ,it seems   
worthy of remark1 that salmon are       

sometimes smaller than gilse2 but       
although such gilse have only been once 
at sea1 yet the period they have        
remained there1 must have exceeded the  
two short visits made by the small      
salmon1 and hence their superiority of  
size4  ,it has been a constantly        
received opinion1 that all the young    
fish1 after their first visit to the    
sea1 return to the rivers in which they 
had been bred2 numbers of marked fish   
have certainly been retaken in their    
native rivers1 but from the observations
 of ,dr4 ,heysham1 and ,sir ,william    
,jardine1 it is evident1 that if the    
fish happen to have roved far from the  
estuary of their native rivers1 they run
 at the proper season1 up any stream1   
even the first they encounter1 the      
temperature and condition of which are  
congenial to them4  ,the growth of      
salmon1 from the state of salmon fry or 
smolt1 to that of salmon peal and gilse1
 has been shown to be very rapid1 and   
the increase of weight1 during each     

subsequent year1 is believed to be      
equal1 if not to exceed the weight      
gained within the first4 ,that this fish
 is a voracious feeder may be inferred  
from the degree of perfection in the    
arrangement of the teeth2 yet few1 of   
the many observers1 who have examined   
the stomach1 have been able to ascertain
 the exact nature of that food which    
must constitute its principal support4  
,faber1 in his 8,natural ,history of the
 ,fishes of ,iceland10 remarks1 8,the   
common salmon feeds on small fishes and 
various small marine animals40 ,dr4     
,fleming confirms this1 when he states  
that their favorite food in the sea is  
the sand eel4  ,in a ,prize ,essay1     
published in the transactions of the    
,highland ,society1 ,mr4 ,morrison says1
 8,i have taken salmon within flood     
mark1 some of which had two1 and others 
three1 full-sized herrings in their     
stomachs40  ,mr4 ,george ,dormer1 of    
,stone ,mills1 in the parish of         
,bridport1 put a female salmon which    

measured twenty inches in length1 into a
 small well1 which measured only five   
feet by two feet four inches1 and there 
was only fifteen inches depth of water4 
,in this confined place she remained    
twelve years1 she would come to the top 
of the water and take meat off a plate1 
and would devour a quarter of a pound of
 lean meat in less time than a man could
 eat it4 ,she would allow ,mr4 ,dormer  
to take her out of the water1 and when  
put into it again1 would immediately    
take meat from his hands4 ,some time    
since1 a little girl teased her by      
presenting the finger and then          
withdrawing it1 till at last she leaped 
a considerable height above the water1  
and caught her by the said finger1 which
 made it bleed profusely4 ,at one time a
 duck approached the well1 and put in   
its head to take a draught of the water1
 when ,mrs4 ,fish1 seeing a trespasser  
on her premises1 seized the intruder by 
the bill1 and a desperate struggle      
ensued1 which at last ended in the      

release of ,mr4 ,drake from the grasp of
 ,mrs4 ,fish1 and no sooner freed1 than 
,mr4 ,drake flew off in the greatest    
consternation and affright2 since which 
time to this day1 he has not been seen  
to approach the well1 and it is with    
great difficulty he can be brought      
within sight of it4  ,salmon differ     
materially1 both in flavor and weight1  
according to the localities in which    
they are taken3 thus1 the ,irish salmon 
seldom exceed ten or twelve pounds4 ,at 
two great fisheries which ,i have       
visited1 namely1 ,ballina and           
,ballinahinch1 nine pounds is their     
average weight2 whereas in ,scotland1   
they run considerably larger4 ,the ,dart
 salmon is very superior to that taken  
in the ,tamar2 and the ,thames is       
esteemed the best flavored in ,england4 
,the epicure considers1 that to eat this
 fish in perfection1 it should be       
dressed immediately after it has quitted
 its native element2 it then boils quite
 solid1 and the flakes are covered with 

a white substance resembling curd4  ,at 
,galway1 the salmon1 when taken out of  
the traps1 in which they are caught in  
ascending from the river to ,loch       
,corrib1 are placed in a reservoir1     
through which a small stream is         
constantly flowing2 they remain here1   
until a customer seeks a particular     
sized fish2 by experience1 the keeper   
knows the weight of each to a quarter of
 a pound1 the required salmon is        
immediately gaffed1 and may be seen     
floating in parsley and butter1 within  
five minutes after its decease4  ,the   
bridge which crosses the river in the   
centre of the town1 is frequently lined 
with persons watching the salmon1 which 
are to be seen three or four deep in the
 pools below1 they look like waving     
weeds1 and remain in the same position  
for hours4 ,boats are moored about one  
hundred feet above the bridge1 from     
whence sportsmen catch an occasional    
fish with a shrimp1 impaled on a good   
sized hook2 the tackle being necessarily

 fine1 in consequence of the clearness  
of the water1 some skill is required to 
secure the prey2 the spectators from    
above1 enter with much glee into the    
sport2 applauding the piscator1 when by 
patience and adroitness1 he is          
successful1 and are equally bountiful in
 their raillery1 when for lack of these 
necessary qualities the fish escapes4 ,i
 remember watching with great interest1 
the manuvres of one of these waiters    
upon providence4 ,he had hooked an      
unusually large fish1 and played him    
admirably for some time2 it appeared    
quite exhausted1 and allowed itself to  
be guided within a few feet of the boat1
 the well directed gaff was ready for   
its deadly purpose2 in another second1  
the fish would quiver on the barb1 when 
in a twinkling1 the promised prize      
darted off with renewed energy1 and     
rushing down the river1 passed beneath  
the centre arch1 and could be seen on   
the other side1 struggling against the  
stream and the steady line of his       

opponent2 the man holding in his right  
hand his trusty rod1 slipped with his   
left1 the rope which kept his boat in   
her position1 which quickly followed in 
the fish's wake1 when as a last effort1 
the salmon doubled upon its pursuer1 and
 darted through the second arch from    
that which the boat had just entered2   
the line came of course in contact with 
the pier1 the fish gave one desperate   
plunge1 the next moment the line floated
 lightly on the surface of the water4   
,the man cast his rod in anger on the   
bottom of his boat1 looked daggers at   
the laughing crowd above1 and quitted   
the scene of his disappointment1 to seek
 better fortune elsewhere4  ,the capture
 of a large fish1 is a fatiguing        
operation1 and requires the utmost skill
 and patience2 one jerk--one diverted   
look--the least slackening of the       
line--and your labor is lost4 ,the      
following are a few instances of well   
requited proficiency4 ,although ,i      
cannot hold out much promise of similar 

good fortune in the present day1 as     
salmon are now rarely taken1 even in    
nets of equal size1 it may be           
satisfactory to the aspirant to know1   
that the largest fish do not necessarily
 afford the best sport2 they are apt to 
turn sulky and will lay doggedly at the 
bottom of a pool1 endeavouring to cut   
the line1 by grating it against a rock1 
or other hard substance with the nose2  
when this occurs1 throw gravel or small 
stones over the spot1 where the fish is 
thus engaged1 and it will try some other
 expedient4  ,in the ,thames1 on the    
#crd ,october1 #ahab1 ,mr4 ,g4          
,marshall1 of ,brewer ,street1 ,london1 
caught and killed a salmon with a single
 gut1 that weighed twenty-one pounds1   
four ounces4  ,sir ,h4 ,davy1 used      
occasionally to visit the ,tweed4 ,upon 
one occasion1 he killed a salmon1 that  
weighed forty-two pounds4  ,mr4         
,lascelles1 in his letters on sporting1 
says1 8,the largest salmon ,i ever knew 
taken with a fly in ,scotland1 weighed  

fifty-four pounds and a half40  ,sir    
,hyde ,parker killed one in ,sweden1    
that weighed sixty pounds2 and the ,earl
 of ,home killed one in the ,tweed1     
which weighed sixty-nine pounds and     
three-quarters4  ,the season of #ahce1  
was remarkable for large salmon4 ,a     
notice appeared in the papers of one    
that weighed fifty-five pounds4 ,mr4    
,mudie has recorded one of sixty pounds4
 ,in a note in several editions of      
,walton1 one is mentioned that weighed  
seventy pounds4 ,pennant has noticed one
 of seventy-four pounds4 ,the largest ,i
 have heard of was in the possession of 
,mr4 ,groves1 the fishmonger1 of ,bond  
street1 it weighed eighty-three pounds4 
,it is not recorded how the last four   
were captured1 but ,i conclude those    
mentioned by ,walton1 and ,pennant1 were
 also taken with the fly4  ,page        
ninety-eight warns me1 that my          
observations have exceeded the limit ,i 
originally assigned them2 ,i trust      
however they have not been written in   

vain1 but that the hints on fly-fishing1
 will enable the uninitiated to commence
 the sport1 fortified with some         
practical information1 and that his     
prospect of success will be more        
cheering than if he had depended on the 
assurance so readily given by the vendor
 of tackle--that his flies are certain  
killers1 and his rods perfection4  ,i   
have written for the purpose of aiding  
the young in the acquirement of an art1 
which if pursued under proper           
restrictions1 will be found conducive to
 the health of the body and improvement 
of the mind4  ,knowing that vice too    
frequently springs up where cheerful    
recreations are forbidden1 ,i hold it to
 be the duty of parents1 to encourage   
the innocent amusements of their        
children4  ,the boy1 who has been too   
severely curbed by the injudicious      
father1 ,i have seen1 in after life1 a  
sullen1 morose1 deceitful man2 his      
pleasures have been sought by stealth2  
falsehood has been practised1 to evade  

the censure of those who should have    
encouraged his youthful pastimes4 ,vice1
 perchance has been courted1 because it 
lurks in darkness and obscurity1 beyond 
the reach of the parent's eye1 whose    
unwise command has forbid the joyous    
pursuits so congenial to the unclouded  
days of youth4  ,i have also written for
 the guidance of those of maturer age2  
who1 fatigued with the drudgery of      
business1 or worn by the anxiety of a   
profession1 seek some recreation1 which 
may recruit their strength and          
invigorate their minds1 rendering them  
more fitted for the wonted task1 and    
more capable of fulfilling the duties of
 their respective stations4  ,that these
 objects may be obtained1 and that good 
sport may attend the ,devon and ,cornish
 fishermen1 is the sincere wish of their
 fellow sportsman4   ,g4 ,w4 ,,soltau4  
,little ,efford1 near ,plymouth1 #ahdg4 
,e4 ,,nettleton1 ,printer to ,her       
,majesty1 ,plymouth4   ,transcriber's   
,notes  ,page #fj--;changed             

#8cock-chaffer' to #8cock-chafer'4 ,page
 #gi--;changed #8spawing' to            
#8spawning'4 ,page #ii--;changed        
#8obsurity' to #8obscurity'4  ,from the 
,errata3  ,page #i--to apt1 now reads   
too apt to rely4 ,page #ae--variest1 now
 reads veriest ,page #bj--;aught1 now   
reads naught ,page #ce--lace1 now reads 
,laced ,page #ii--;falshood1 now reads  
falsehood