CONTENTS. 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 "rosy Morn' to the "Wind-up" at "dewy Eve;" interspersed with - History of the Trout. — Value of an Acquaintance with its - 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 Entomology.-The Flies eaten by Trout.-The two princi- pal Classes, Phryganidæ and Ephemerida.-Peculiarities of each and their Habits described. - Times of the Ap- 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 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 - 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 our own. - Instructions for making a Red Palmer, with Illustrations of all the principal Operations. — Instruc- --- Remarks on Imitation.-Our own Opinion.-Size, Colour, Necessity for Imitation of Natural Flies.-Caution against - Theory and Practice. - A Word about "Book-learning." - General Remarks on the Fly-fishing Season. 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. 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 |