Rods and Lines proper for Artificial Flyfishing, &c.

As for your artificial fly-rod, the directions given in the first part of this treatise are sufficient, only be careful that the materials which it is composed of are well seasoned, and free from knots, and that the whole is exactly perfect in regard to symmetry.

The length of the fly-rod is generally from about fourteen to seventeen feet long; which is long enough for any one who understands fly fishing to throw twelve yards of line, with one hand, and seventeen with both.

To make a fly rod, that will be exceedingly neat and pleasant in hand, you must observe the fellowing method:

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Procure a nice breadth of ash plank, free from knots, perfectly sound, and about seven feet long; let it be turned in the lath so as to run taper from the but end, which should be so thick and no more than you can with have it fer ecause they have L Se nem running glibby through the rings of a rod. By the line being made taper, you will be able to throw it into any place you like with a greater exactness, and it will fall much lighter on the water, which will very much increase your sport.

The reader now being informed of the rod and lines best calculated for artificial fly-fishing, I shall in the next chapter give him a list of the materials he must be in possession of before he attempts to make flies, and afterwards give him the best instructions for making them.

CHAP. II.

A LIST OF THE MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR AN ANGLER TO HAVE, AND THE BEST METHOD TO MAKE THE PALMER AND MAY FLY.

Hog's Down,

NOMBED from the roots of the bristles of black, red, whitish, and sandy-coloured hogs; the white down you may have dyed to any colour you like. It is excellent dubbing, because it will stand the water and shines well. To be a competent judge of the real colour of any dubbing, you must hold it between the sun and your eyes. This is a standing rule when you imitate a fly.

Camel's Hair,

Of a dark and light colour, and one in the medium of both.

Badger's Hair,

The brown soft fur which is on the skin, and the blackest.

Bear's Hair,

Grey, dun, light and dark coloured, bright

brown, and shining brown.

Spaniel's

Spaniel's Hair,

From the different parts of a spaniel, especially from behind the ear, brown, dark brown, light brown, and black.

Sheep's Wool,

Of all colours, both natural and artificial; you may have it dyed to any colour.

Seal's Fur,

To be had at the trunk-makers; get it dyed from the lightest to the darkest brown, and you will find it much better dubbing than cow or calves' hair.

Mohairs,

Of all colours, black, blue, purple, white, violet, yellow, and tawney, philomot from feuille morte, a dead leaf; and Isabella, which is a whitish yellow, or soiled buff colour.

Cow's Hair,

The softest you can get from a black, brindled, and rew cow; and of these colours, have brown, dark brown, light brown, and black.

Colt's or Calve's Hair.

These afford very good dubbing, and a variety, especially those hides that have been tewed, or dressed in a Skinner's lime pit; but, as I said be

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fore, seal's fur dyed is much better than either cow's or either of the hairs of these two; because it is not so harsh, and does not require so much trouble to work it on the hook; and observe further, that this fur is for small flies, and hog's down for large ones.

Camlets,

Both hair and worsted of all colours, blue, yellow, dun, brown, dark brown light brown, red violet, purple, black, horse-flesh, pink, and

orange.

Furs,

Off the squirrel, especially his tail; a hare, the part off the neck which is a whithered fern colour; foxcub from the tail where it is downy and of an ash colour; an old fox, and old otter, otter-cub, futimart, or filmert; a mole, a black cat's tail; a house-mouse, and water rat; a marten, particularly from off the gills, or spots under the jaws, which is of a fine yellow. These are all to be had at the furriers.

Hackles.

These are the feathers that hang from the head of a cock, down his neck, and likewise near his tail, they are particularly used in making the palmer fly; get the following colours of them, viz. red, dun, yellowish, white, orange, and black; let not the fibres of them be above half an inch long. Whenever you meet with a cock, whose hackle is of a strong brown red, buy him, and make the

most

most of the hackles. Note, the feathers of a bantam or cock chick, are good for nothing.

Feathers,

To make the wings of artificial flies, &c. it is necessary to be provided with all kind of feathers; procure therefore those from the back, and other parts of the wild mallard or drake; of a partridge, particularly the red ones in the tail; those of a cock-pheasant's breast and tail; also the wings of a stare or starling, jay, land-rail, black bird, throstle, fieldfare, water-coot, and a brown hen; likewise the top, or cop, of a pevit, plover, or lap-wing, peacock's herl, green, copper-coloured, and white, also black ostrich's herl, and feathers from the neck and wings of a heron. Observe, that in many instances hereafter that you will meet with, where the mallard's feather is set down for the wings of an artificial fly, that the starling will be preferable, because it is of a finer grain, and will not imbibe the water so much.

Carpets and Blankets.

There is very good dubbing to be got from blankets, also from an old Turkey carpet; untwist the yarn, and pick out the wool, then separate the colours, wrap them up in different papers, and lay them by.

Silks, &c.

Of all colours, straw silk, gold and silver flatted wire, or twist; hooks in small chip boxes, with the number of the size of each marked on