the complete angler-第14章

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　wool；　and　the　wings　made　of　the　black　drake's　feathers；　and　of　the　feathers　under　his　tail。　The　third　is　the　stone…fly；　in　April：　the　body　is　made　of　black　wool；　made　yellow　under　the　wings　and　under　the　tail；　and　so　made　with　wings　of　the　drake。　The　fourth　is　the　ruddy…fly；　in　the　beginning　of　May：　the　body　made　of　red　wool；　wrapt　about　with　black　silk；　and　the　feathers　are　the　wings　of　the　drake；　with　the　feathers　of　a　red　capon　also；　which　hang　dangling　on　his　sides　next　to　the　tail。　The　fifth　is　the　yellow　or　greenish　fly；　in　May　likewise：　the　body　made　of　yellow　wool；　and　the　wings　made　of　the　red　cock's　hackle　or　tail。　The　sixth　is　the　black…fly；　in　May　also：　the　body　made　of　black　wool；　and　lapt　about　with　the　herle　of　a　peacock's　tail：　the　wings　are　made　of　the　wings　of　a　brown　capon；　with　his　blue　feathers　in　his　head。　The　seventh　is　the　sad　yellow…fly　in　June：　the　body　is　made　of　black　wool；　with　a　yellow　list　on　either　side；　and　the　wings　taken　off　the　wings　of　a　buzzard；　bound　with　black　braked　hemp。　The　eighth　is　the　moorish…fly；　made；　with　the　body；　of　duskish　wool；　and　the　wings　made　of　the　blackish　mail　of　the　drake。　The　ninth　is　the　t…fly…fly；　good　until　the　middle　of　June：　the　body　made　of　tawny　wool；　the　wings　made　contrary　one　against　the　other；　made　of　the　whitish　mail　of　the　wild　drake。　The　tenth　is　the　wasp…fly　in　July；　the　body　made　of　black　wool；　lapt　about　with　yellow　silk；　the　wings　made　of　the　feathers　of　the　drake；　or　of　the　buzzard。　The　eleventh　is　the　shell…fly；　good　in　mid…July：　the　body　made　of　greenish　wool；　lapt　about　with　the　herle　of　a　peacock's　tail：　and　the　wings　made　of　the　wings　of　the　buzzard。　The　twelfth　is　the　dark　drake…　fly；　good　in　August：　the　body　made　with　black　wool；　lapt　about　with　black　silk；　his　wings　are　made　with　the　mail　of　the　black　drake；　with　a　black　head。　Thus　have　you　a　jury　of　flies；　likely　to　betray　and　condemn　all　the　Trouts　in　the　river。

I　shall　next　give　you　some　other　directions　for　fly…fishing；　such　as　are　given　by　Mr。　Thomas　Barker；　a　gentleman　that　hath　spent　much　time　in　fishing：　but　I　shall　do　it　with　a　little　variation。

First；　let　your　rod　be　light；　and　very　gentle：　I　take　the　best　to　be　of　two　pieces。　And　let　not　your　line　exceed；　especially　for　three　or　four　links　next　to　the　hook；　I　say；　not　exceed　three　or　four　hairs　at　the　most；　though　you　may　fish　a　little　stronger　above；　in　the　upper　part　of　your　line：　but　if　you　can　attain　to　angle　with　one　hair；　you　shall　have　more　rises；　and　catch　more　fish。　Now　you　must　be　sure　not　to　cumber　yourself　with　too　long　a　line；　as　most　do。　And　before　you　begin　to　angle；　cast　to　have　the　wind　on　your　back；　and　the　sun；　if　it　shines；　to　be　before　you；　and　to　fish　down　the　stream；　and　carry　the　point　or　top　of　your　rod　downward；　by　which　means　the　shadow　of　yourself　and　rod　too；　will　be　the　least　offensive　to　the　fish；　for　the　sight　of　any　shade　amazes　the　fish；　and　spoils　your　sport；　of　which　you　must　take　great　care。

In　the　middle　of　March；　till　which　time　a　man　should　not　in　honesty　catch　a　Trout；　or　in　April；　it　the　weather　be　dark；　or　a　little　windy　or　cloudy；　the　best　fishing　is　with　the　palmer…worm；　of　which　I　last　spoke　to　you；　but　of　these　there　be　divers　kinds；　or　at　least　of　divers　colours：　these　and　the　May…fly　are　the　ground　of　all　fly…angling：　which　are　to　be　thus　made：

First；　you　must　arm　your　hook　with　the　line；　in　the　inside　of　it：　then　take　your　scissors；　and　cut　so　much　of　a　brown　mallard's　feather　as；　in　your　own　reason；　will　make　the　wings　of　it；　you　having；　withal；　regard　to　the　bigness　or　littleness　of　your　hook；　then　lay　the　outmost　part　of　your　feather　next　to　your　hook；　then　the　point　of　your　feather　next　the　shank　of　your　hook；　and；　having　so　done；　whip　it　three　or　four　times　about　the　hook　with　the　same　silk　with　which　your　hook　was　armed；　and　having　made　the　silk　fast；　take　the　hackle　of　a　cock　or　capon's　neck；　or　a　plover's　top；　which　is　usually　better：　take　off　the　one　side　of　the　feather；　and　then　take　the　hackle；　silk　or　crewel；　gold　or　silver　thread；　make　these　fast　at　the　bent　of　the　hook；　that　is　to　say；　below　your　arming；　then　you　must　take　the　hackle；　the　silver　or　gold　thread；　and　work　it　up　to　the　wings；　shifting　or　still　removing　your　finger　as　you　turn　the　silk　about　the　hook；　and　still　looking；　at　every　stop　or　turn；　that　your　gold；　or　what　materials　soever　you　make　your　fly　of；　do　lie　right　and　neatly；　and　if　you　find　they　do　so；　then　when　you　have　made　the　head；　make　all　fast：　and　then　work　your　hackle　up　to　the　head；　and　make　that　fast：　and　then；　with　a　needle；　or　pin；　divide　the　wing　into　two；　and　then；　with　the　arming　silk；　whip　it　about　cross…ways　betwixt　the　wings：　and　then　with　your　thumb　you　must　turn　the　point　of　the　feather　towards　the　bent　of　the　hook；　and　then　work　three　or　four　times　about　the　shank　of　the　hook；　and　then　view　the　proportion；　and　if　all　be　neat；　and　to　your　liking；　fasten。

I　confess；　no　direction　can　be　given　to　make　a　man　of　a　dull　capacity　able　to　make　a　fly　well：　and　yet　I　know　this；　with　a　little　practice；　will　help　an　ingenious　angler　in　a　good　degree。　But　to　see　a　fly　made　by　an　artist　in　that　kind；　is　the　best　teaching　to　make　it。　And；　then；　an　ingenious　angler　may　walk　by　the　river；　and　mark　what　flies　fall　on　the　water　that　day；　and　catch　one　of　them；　if　he　sees　the　Trouts　leap　at　a　fly　of　that　kind：　and　then　having　always　hooks　ready…hung　with　him；　and　having　a　bag　always　with　him；　with　bear's　hair；　or　the　hair　of　a　brown　or　sad…coloured　heifer；　hackles　of　a　cock　or　capon；　several　coloured　silk　and　crewel　to　make　the　body　of　the　fly；　the　feathers　of　a　drake's　head；　black　or　brown　sheep's　wool；　or　hog's　wool；　or　hair；　thread　of　gold　and　of　silver；　silk　of　several　colours；　especially　sad…coloured；　to　make　the　fly's　head：　and　there　be　also　other　coloured　feathers；　both　of　little　birds　and　of　speckled　fowl：　I　say；　having　those　with　him　in　a　bag；　and　trying　to　make　a　fly；　though　he　miss　at　first；　yet　shall　he　at　last　hit　it　better；　even　to　such　a　perfection　as　none　can　well　teach　him　And　if　he　hit　to　make　his　fly　right；　and　have　the　luck　to　hit；　also；　where　there　is　store　of　Trouts；　a　dark　day；　and　a　right　wind；　he　will　catch　such　store　of　them；　as　will　encourage　him　to　grow　more　and　more　in　love　with　the　art　of　fly…　making。

Venator。　But；　my　loving　master；　if　any　wind　will　not　serve；　then　I　wish　I　were　in　Lapland；　to　buy　a　good　wind　of　one　of　the　honest　witches；　that　sell　so　many　winds　there；　and　so　cheap。

Piscator。　Marry；　scholar；　but　I　would　not　be　there；　nor　indeed　from　under　this　tree；　for　look　how　it　begins　to　rain；　and　by　the　clouds；　if　I　mistake　not；　we　shall　presently　have　a　smoking　shower；　and　therefore　sit　close；　this　sycamore…tree　will　shelter　us：　and　I　will　tell　you；　as　they　shall　come　into　my　mind；　more　observations　of　fly…fishing　for　a　Trout。

But　first　for　the　wind：　you　are　to　take　notice　that　of　the　winds　the　south　wind　is　said　to　be　best。　One　observes；　that

when　the　wind　is　south；　It　blows　your　bait　into　a　fish's　mouth。

Next　to　that；　the　west　wind　is　believed　to　be　the　best：　and　having　told　you　that　the　east　wind　is　the　worst；　I　need　not　tell　you　which　wind　is　the　best　in　the　third　degree：　and　yet；　as　Solomon　observes；　that　〃　he　that　considers　the　wind　shall　never　sow　〃；　so　he　that　busies　his　head　too　much　about　them；　if　the　weather　be　not　made　extreme　cold　by　an　east　wind；　shall　be　a　little　superstitious：　for　as　it　is　observed　by　some；　that　〃　there　is　no　good　horse　of　a　bad　colour〃；　so　I　have　observed；　that　if　it　be　a　cloudy　day；　and　not　extreme　cold；　let　the　wind　sit　in　what　corner　it　will　and　do　its　worst；　I　heed　it　not。　And　yet　take　this　for　a　rule；　that　I　would　willingly　fish；　standing　on　the　lee…shore：　and　you　are　to　take　notice；　that　the　fish　lies　or　swims　nearer　the　bottom；　and　in　deeper　water；　in　winter　than　in　summer；　and　also　nearer　the　bottom　in　any　cold　day；　and　then　gets　nearest　the　lee…side　of　the　water。

But　I　promised　to　tell　you　more　of　the　Fly…fishing　for　a　Trout；　which　I　may　have　time　enough　to　do；　for　you　see　it　rains　May　butter。　First　for　a　Mayfly：　you　may　make　his　body　with　greenish…coloured　crewel；　or　willowish　colour；　darkening　it　in　most　places　with　waxed　silk；　or　ribbed　with　black　hair；　or；　some　of　them；　ribbed　with　silver　thread；　and　such　wings；　for　the　colour；　as　you　see　the　fly　to　have　at　that　season；　nay；　at　that　very　day　on　the　water。　Or　you　may　make　the　Oak…fly：　with　an　orange；　tawny；　and　black　ground；　and　the　brown　of　a　mallard's　feather　for　the　wings。　And　you　are　to　know；　that　these　two　are　most　excellent　flies；　that　is；　the　May…fly　and　the　Oak…fly。

And　let　me　again　tell　you；　that　you　keep　as　far　from　the　water　as　you　can　possibly；　whether　you　fish　with　a　fly　or　worm；　and　fish　down　the　stream。　And　when　you　fish　with　a　fly；　if　it　be　possible；　let　no　part　of　your　line　touch　the　water；　but　your　fly　only；　and　be　still　moving　your　fly　upon　the　water；　or　casting　it　into　the　water；　you　yourself　being　also　always　moving　down　the　stream。

Mr。　Barker　commends　several　sorts　of　the　palmer…flies；　not　only　those　ribbed　with　silver　and　gold；　but　others　that　have　their　bodies　all　made　of　black；　or　some　with　red；　and　a　red　hackle。　You　may　also　make　the　Hawthorn…fly：　which　is　all　black；　and　not　big；　but　very　small；　the　smaller　the　better。　Or　the　oak…fly；　the　body　of　which　is　orange　colour　and　black　crewel；　with　a　brown　wing。　Or　a　fly　made　with　a　peacock's　feather　is　excellent　in　a　bright　day：　you　must　be　sure　you　want　not　in　your　magazine…bag　the　peacock's　feather；　and　grounds　of　such　wool　and　crewel　as　will　make　the　grasshopper。　And　note；　that　usually　the　smallest　flies　are　the　best；　and　note　also；　that　the　light　fly　does　usually　make　most　sport　in　a　dark　day；　and　the　darkest　and　least　fly　in　a　bright　or　clear　day：　and　lastly　note；　that　you　are　to　repair　upon　any　occasion　to　your　magazine…bag：　and　upon　any　occasion；　vary　and　make　them　lighter　or　sadder；　according　to　your　fancy；　or　the　day。

And　now　I　shall　tell　you；　that　the　fishing　with　a　natural…fly　is　excellent；　and　affords　much　pleasure。　They　may　be　found　thus：　the　May…fly；　usually　in　and　about　that　month；　near　to　the　river…side；　especially　against　rain：　the　Oak…fly；　on　the　butt　or　body　of　an　oak　or　ash；　from　the　beginning　of　May　to　the　end　of　August；　it　is　a　brownish　fly　and　easy　to　be　so　found；　and　stands　usually　with　his　head　downward；　that　is　to　say；　towards　the　root　of　the　tree：　the　small　black…fly；　or　Hawthorn…fly；　is　to　be　had　on　any　hawthorn　bush　after　the　leaves　be　come　forth。　With　these　and　a　short　line；　as　I　shewed　to　angle　for　a　Chub；　you　may　cape　or　cop；　and　also　with　a　grasshopper；　behind　a　tree；　or　in　any　deep　hole；　still　making　it　to　move　on　the　top　of　the　water　as　if　it　were　alive；　and　still　keeping　yourself　out　of　sight；　you　shall　certainly　have　sport　if　there　be　Trouts；　yea；　in　a　hot　day；　but　especially　in　the　evening　of　a　hot　day；　you　will　have　sport。

And　now；　scholar；　my　direction　for　fly…fishing　is　ended　with　this　shower；　for　it　has　done　raining。　And　now　look　about　you；　and　see　how　pleasantly　that　meadow　looks；　nay；　and　the　earth　smells　so　sweetly　too。　Come　let　me　tell　you　what　holy　Mr。　Herbert　says　of　such　days　and　flowers　as　these；　and　then　we　will　thank　God　that　we　enjoy　them；　and　walk　to　the　river　and　sit　do