CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

A Tribute to Walton.- Truthfulness of his Pictures of an

Angler's Pleasures. Characteristics of Angling. — Sir

Henry Wotton quoted. - Superiority of Fly-fishing to

all the other Branches of Angling. - Sketch of a Spring

Day’s Fly-fishing from the “Set-out” at “

to the “ Wind-up" at "dewy Eve;" interspersed with

sundry Reflections and Descriptions of Natural Scenery.

– The Chapter ended pleasantly Page 1 to 12

rosy Morn”

History of the Trout. — Value of an Acquaintance with its

Habits.- Generic Character of the Trout. — Its Varieties.

- Comparative nutritious Qualities of these, and In-

fluence of Food upon the Form and Colours of the Fish.

- Mr. Stoddart quoted in illustration. — Size of Trout.

— Caution against killing small Fish. — A few Words

about the History of the Salmon. — Mr. Shaw's Experi-

ments and their Results. - Mr. Young's Correction of

an important Error of that Gentleman's. — Is the Salmon-

peal identical with the Salmon, but in an imperfect State

of its Growth? - What is the Parr? — These Questions
considered. -Seasons of Trout. - The Process of Spawn-
ing described by Mr. Mudie. - Mr. Stoddart's new
Theory of the Spawning of Fishes commented on. -
Effects of Spawning on the Health of the Fish. - The
Lernea trutta. — Feeding Times and Haunts of Trout. —
Senses of Fishes: Smelling, Seeing, and Hearing. -
Foundation of Professor Rennie's Non-imitation Theory.

Our Remarks thereon.-Mr. Erasmus Wilson's Opinion

on Vision in Fishes. – An Experiment on the Hearing

of Fishes.-

Professor James Wilson's Opinion.-Voracity

of Trout. — Intellectuality of Fly-fishing Page 13 to 44

CHAPTER III.

Entomology.-The Flies eaten by Trout. — The two princi-

pal Classes, Phryganidæ and Ephemeridæ.-Peculiarities

of each and their Habits described. — Times of the Ap-

pearance on the Water of the different Species. — The

Perlidæ - the Stone-fly

45 to 59

CHAPTER IV.

General Remarks on Tackle. -Dame Juliana Berners

lauded. — The Fly-rod. —Copious Remarks thereon, with

Instructions for its Selection, and Information concerning

its Manufacture. -Our Notions of a good Rod, and

Reasons for forming them. — Rod-rings. - Varnish.

Price of a good Rod

60 to 74

CHAPTER V.

Selection of the Tackle concluded. - The Line. - The

“ Point." - The Reel. — The Collar, and the proper

Method of fitting it up with Flies. — The Angler's Knot

described. — Silkworm Gut. - Process of its Manufacture,

and Directions for choosing it. The different kinds of

Hooks. — What constitutes a good Hook. The Kendal

Hook recommended. - Different Parts of a Hook shown

by a Diagram. — The Fly-book. — Its Make and Cost.

The landing Net. - When desirable and otherwise.

The Basket or Pannier. - Caution against cheap Tackle

Page 75 to 94

CHAPTER VI.

Fly-making. - Introductory Remarks. Selection of the
requisite Materials. — Silk. — Fur or Dubbing. - Herls.
-Twist. -Hackles. Materials for Wings.

- Wax.

Scissors. - Principal Characteristics of Artificial Flies. —

Different Methods of making them, and a Word about

Instructions for making a Red Palmer, with

Illustrations of all the principal Operations. — Instruc-

tions for making Buzz and Wing-flies, also illustrated.

A Word to our Pupils

95 to 123

our own.

CHAPTER VII.

Remarks on Imitation. Our own Opinion.-Size, Colour,

and Form the “main Points" of Imitation. Occasional

Necessity for Imitation of Natural Flies. --Caution against

over-fastidiousness. — Imitation of Action highly im-

portant. — The “Sporting Review” quoted. — The Duns

recommended, and why. — Correction of an erroneous

Idea. List and Tables of Flies

124 to 149

CHAPTER VIII.

Theory and Practice. - A Word about "Book-learning." -

Throwing the Line and Flies. — Striking - its Necessity

and Object. Quotations from Mr. Ronalds, Mr.

Younger, and “Ephemera." - Friendly Hints on pisca-

torial Etiquette. Instructions for playing and landing

a Fish.– A Word about Patience, and a Glance at Love.

- Insensibility of Fish to Pain. — Sir Humphrey Davy

quoted thereon. The unfounded Charge of “ Cruelty”

summarily dismissed

Page 150 to 169

CHAPTER IX.

General Remarks on the Fly-fishing Season. — Spring. -

The
proper

Flies to use, and what Parts of the River to

Fish.
Rising “short.”

Summer Fishing. — Best in a

wet Season.— Proper Flies enumerated. — Evening Fish-

ing. - Its peculiar Delights. — The best Flies for use.

Dace Fishing. — A good preliminary “School” for the

superior Art of Trouting. — Remarks and Instructions

thereon. — Autumn Fishing. - Where to fish, and what

Flies to use. — End of our piscatorial Lessons. — A

Word at parting. - Conclusion

170 to 186

THE

VADE-MECUM OF FLY-FISHING,

&c. &c.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

My good scholar, we may say of angling as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries, ‘Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did ;' and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.”— Izaac WALTON.

GLORIOUS old Izaac! What delightful thoughts

what poetical imaginings — the bare mention of thy name evokes! They come fresh and uncontaminated from the pure fountains of nature -- as if haloed with cowslip garlands, bespangled with the blue-bell and the water-lily — stealing along amid the murmur of the summer stream, the hum of insects, and the song of birds !

B