THE 
 
 N G L E R'S 
 
 SID E R A T U M

 
 ANGLER'S DESIDERATUM, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE BEST AND FULLEST DIRECTIONS FOR 
 DRESSING THE ARTIFICIAL FLY; 
 
 SOME NEW AND VALUABLE INVENTIONS 
 
 THE AUTHOR, 
 
 FROM A PRACTICE OF NEARLY HALF A CENTURY. 
 
 EDINBURGH : 
 
 PRINTED BY M. ANDERSON, MOUND PLACE, 
 
 MDCCCXXXIX.
 
 TO 
 
 LADY GOKDON GUMMING. 
 
 OP 
 
 ALTYRE, MORAYSHIRE, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING, 
 
 AND THE ART OF DRESSING THE FLY, 
 
 BEING THE RESULT OF 
 
 NEARLY FIFTY YEARS' STUDY AND EXPERIENCE, 
 
 IS, BY PERMISSION, 
 
 MOST HUMBLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY HER GRATEFUL AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 ht January 1839. 
 
 2067036
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Author's motive in publishing this little Trea- 
 tise is, primarily, to leave behind him a mark of re- 
 gard and esteem for some excellent individuals, lovers 
 of angling, ere he quit for ever the rapid streams, 
 majestic rivers, and still lakes of his fatherland, with 
 their bonny banks and braes. At the same time, he 
 must confess he would never have presumed to have 
 done so, had he not been prevailed upon by their re- 
 peated solicitations, from his diffidence in appear- 
 ing before the public for the first time. He trusts 
 therefore to their indulgence, in not criticising too 
 severly his first attempt. That it will have many 
 enemies from interested individuals, he is well aware, 
 but the advantages accruing from its publication, 
 will fully compensate him for disclosing minutely 
 the art, from his practice of nearly half a century. 
 Should his first Essay be favourably received, which 
 he has reason to anticipate, he begs leave to intimate, 
 that it is only the precursor of another, more co- 
 pious, and of consequence more efficient work (it is 
 also far advanced), from his having the assistance of 
 the first anglers in the united kingdom ; this being 
 only his own practice, and no adventitious aid from
 
 b INTRODUCTION. 
 
 hooks, or otherwise. It will also be his study, that 
 it shall occasionally be interspersed with anecdote 
 and fun, not trite but original, to amuse the angler 
 when in a recumbent position, waiting under a tree 
 or hedge, for a cloud passing between him and the 
 sun. He will now close this preamble by remark- 
 ing, that it has been a matter of surprise to him, 
 that although it is now nearly two hundred years 
 since Isaac Walton published his Complete Angler, 
 every one who has written on the subject, has been 
 almost invariably his wily plagiarist, as may be seen 
 by comparing the book of that truly excellent and 
 worthy man, with the publications which have teemed 
 from the press on angling since the above period ; 
 and it may be truly surmised, that most of them have 
 been written in some obscure garret in London, by 
 authors who were perfect novices in that innocent, 
 sublime and meditative recreation. When every 
 other art has been progressively improving, that of 
 angling seems to have retrograded, which can be 
 attributed only to one of the following causes, viz., — 
 that selfish jealousy which some expert anglers in 
 a great degree possess, in not disclosing their art : 
 or, perhaps, to that modest diffidence so character- 
 istic in the ffeneralitv of those who follow that si- 
 lent and reflective recreation. The Author will 
 now finish the Introduction, by assuring the reader, 
 that if he pays the attention requisite to the brief 
 instructions laid down, he cannot fail to be a com- 
 plete angler.
 
 THE 
 
 ANGLER'S DESIDERATQM. 
 
 \st. THE KOD. 
 
 Never angle with a small rod, even in streamlets ; 
 you cannot drop the fly in with that precision and 
 delicacy at a distance, a long one enables you to 
 do. It ought never to be less than twelve or sixteen 
 feet, not bending at the top, when held horizontally ; 
 but, on the contrary, standing out gracefully from the 
 root to the tip, tremblingly alive to the slightest motion 
 of the hand ; vibrating and felt by it at every throw ; 
 it ought not to be supple in the middle, nor stiff at 
 the root, as most of the rods are that are hollow for 
 reserved tops. The best wood to make them of 
 is hickory, that from some parts of the West Indies 
 is supposed to have the greatest elasticity; but all 
 of this wood, if properly made, are good. Lance- 
 wood tops some prefer, but from experience I have 
 found them not so serviceable as hickory, as they 
 often break, apparently from the short grain of the
 
 8 THE angler's 
 
 wood. With respect to the nuniber of the joints or 
 pieces, the more the greater convenience for car- 
 riage, but the fewer the better ; that is, three than 
 four, two than three, and one piece the best of all, 
 as they injure the spring of the rod, which is well 
 known to first-rate anglers. The colour of the rod 
 ought to be sombre, so ought the dress of the ang- 
 ler. Nothing can be more preposterously ridicu- 
 lous than wearing light-coloured clothes when fish- 
 ing; those who do so, are aUvays looked upon as 
 tyros by deeply skilled anglers. The author has 
 found it highly necessary to be very precise and ex- 
 plicit on this head, being well aware that a good rod 
 is one of the most essential articles, and one which 
 all good anglers take great pride in possessing; in- 
 deed it stands next in rank to fine tackle and flies. 
 Observe, moreover, on this article, that the best rods 
 ought to cost no more than from twelve to twenty 
 shillings. Expensive ones, that is, those that are 
 highly finished and finely varnished, are not the 
 best, as the work required, and the ingredients used 
 to give them a fine polish, make them fragile, apt 
 to break, and often spoil a good day's sport. 
 
 2d, — THE WHEEL. 
 
 That termed a multiplicator, or multiplying winch, 
 which takes up the line quick by internal machinery, 
 has not been found so serviceable by great anglers,
 
 DESIDERATUM. 9 
 
 as one quite plain ; they also make a disagreeable 
 noise, wliich is heartl at a distance, and not seldom 
 causes unpleasant renconntejs to the silent contem- 
 plative possessor- 
 
 od. — THE IIUNNING-LINE. 
 
 The best is silk and hair mixed; the Author has 
 now one of this kind, which he has used upwards of 
 twenty years ; it is apparently as good as ever, al- 
 though he has run hundreds of salmon with it, and 
 some thousands of other fish. Me attributes its pre- 
 servation to having, on his return from fishing, al- 
 ways dried it in the air, or in the house, wound 
 round the back of a chair. 
 
 4:th. — THE CASTING-LINF. 
 
 It ought to be all of silk-worm gut; some prefer 
 hair, and say it is lighter, but this is a mistake; it 
 neither casts so good a line, nor can it be tapered off 
 with such nicety as a gut one. Make it as follows, 
 but do not twist it with a machine, as is generally 
 done, which causes it to be much heavier and less 
 pliable, than when twisted with the fore-finger and 
 thumb of the right hand : — Begin with three strong 
 gut at first, of the same thickness, perfectly round 
 and smooth, the next three must be less thick, and 
 so on for three or four lengths, progressively lessen-
 
 10 THE angler's 
 
 ing the thickness of the gut. Next take two strong 
 gut as thick as the three last twisted, gradually de- 
 crease for three or four lengths as at first, then take 
 one strong gut as thick as the two last, lessening the 
 gut the same way, for five or six lengths. The cast- 
 ing-line ought not to be knotted, but tied together 
 with the finest silk, to admit the line going through 
 the rings of the rod ; fasten it to the running line 
 also with fine silk. Made in this manner it will cast 
 the finest line. Note. — Loops ought never to be used 
 either to fasten on the casting-line, fly-line or hooks. 
 Single gut ought always to be knotted, but never 
 cast round with silk, as the knot, if drawn tight and 
 cut close, is almost imperceptible, whereas, when cast 
 round with silk, it is easily perceived. The reason 
 the casting-line is fastened with silk is, that it may 
 pass through the rings of the rod when landing a 
 fish, to enable you to get close to it with your land- 
 ing-hook. 
 
 bth. — HOOKS. 
 
 The best hooks are those made at Kendal in Cum- 
 berland — Dumfries in Scotland, and Limerick in 
 Ireland. The salmon hooks of the Sister Isle are 
 good holders, but have one fault — are heavy. The 
 trout ones are also excellent, with this exception — 
 they are so small at the end of the shank, particu- 
 larly the midge ones, that when highly tempered 
 they often break there, either in making the head of
 
 DESIDERATUM. 11 
 
 the fly, or when it is fished with in taking the hook 
 from the fish. The bend of the hook ought not to 
 diverge from the shank to the right or left. The 
 hook, when dressed, will be better hid by the wings, 
 and make less motion in the water, which will more 
 than compensate, — the advantage some suppose the 
 sneck bends have in taking hold. Note. — All hooks 
 ought to be tried well on a piece of deal-board pre- 
 vious to fastening on the gut. 
 
 Qth. — SILK-WORM GUT. 
 
 The following directions will be sufficient to en- 
 able any one to choose a good hank : — It ought to 
 be perfectly transparent and round, without any 
 flaws or cottony appearance intervening, from end to 
 end. Note. — It is not more than fifty years since it 
 was known in Europe what gut was. In general, it 
 was conceived to be an Indian weed, till a gentleman 
 named Oliver, a Scotchman, found it out to be the 
 guts of the silk worm. Most all were sceptic and in- 
 credulous ; in order to convince, he gave them ocular 
 demonstration, by making some in their presence. 
 The following is his receipt, which I copied forty 
 years ago from a small Treatise on Trolling by Robert 
 Nobbs, Esq., A. M. It cannot but be acceptable 
 to the angler; good gut being so necessary an ar- 
 ticle, and so mainly conducive to his success in 
 capturing the finny brood.
 
 12 THE angler's 
 
 1th. — METHOD OF i\IAKING SILK-WORM GUT. 
 
 Take the best and largest silk-worms you can pro- 
 cure, just when they begin to spin ; — this may be 
 known by their refusing to eat, having a fine siik 
 thread hanging from their mouths. The worms 
 must be kept in some strong vinegar, covered close 
 over for twelve hours, if the weather is warm ; if 
 not, two or three hours longer will be necessary. 
 When taken out, they must be pulled asunder, and 
 you will see two transparent guts of a yellow green 
 colour, as thick as a small straw bent double, the 
 rest of the inside resembling boiled spinnage ; you can 
 make no mistake. If you find the guts soft, or break 
 upon stretching them, you must let the worms lie 
 longer in the vinegar ; when fit to draw off, you must 
 dip one in the vinegar, and stretch it gently with 
 both hands to the proper length. The gut thus 
 drawn out must be stretched out on a thin piece of 
 board, by putting each end in a slit therein, and 
 placed in the sun to dry. This is the real gut, and 
 the mode of dressing it is the cause of the ends being 
 always cramped. Note. — If your worms are good, and 
 you follow this plain receipt, you may depend on 
 having the best gut.
 
 Dl'SlDEKATUM, 
 
 13 
 
 C ) 
 
 AA 
 
 ! - 
 
 C 
 
 
 "* 
 
 A Silk worm.— i? Gut taken out.— C The gut — D Board 
 with gut to dry. — E Short gut. — A A Wcodeu pegs instead 
 of splitting the board. 
 
 8^/i. — THE TINSEL. 
 
 Flat tinsel I consider the best ; — silver, for a black 
 hackle ; gold, for a red one. Gold-cord tinsel, with 
 yellow or orange-coloured silk in the middle, I some- 
 times dress with, to make a yellow or orange tip 
 at the end of the fly ; which I do in this manner : — 
 The cord is brought round spirally from the wing, — 
 the dubbing having been previously put on half up 
 the body, and fastened by the silk, — the hackle is 
 then brought over and fixed, — the tip (of the hackle) 
 taken off, — more dubbing put on the silk, — worked 
 up to the tail, and fastened by one hitch, — the gold • 
 cord is then brought to the same place, and fixed
 
 14 THE ANGLER*S 
 
 by three hitches. Cut the cord off, leaving a little 
 piece for the yellow or orange tip, — twist the gold 
 off the cord, and the fly is complete. Note. — It is a 
 very killing one, — trout take it fast, and when the 
 rivers are very small, I have taken salmon with a 
 midge-hook, dressed |Lhis way. 
 
 9th. HACKLES FOR MIDGE FLIES. 
 
 Those from the back of the head of the red and 
 black cock, of the game breed, are the best ; particu- 
 larly the Bantam cock, as they are finer. They ought 
 not to be of a light colour underneath, A red cock 
 that has a little black at the root of the feathers 
 makes an excellent hackle and killing fly, with or 
 without a wing. The top feathers on the head of 
 the green plover are very fine ; so are the tail feathers 
 of the little wren also, with or without a wing. The 
 neck feathers of all coloured hens are good and 
 fine, but one side ought to be taken off\, or the fly 
 will be rough, which is always to be avoided. 
 
 10^^. — HACKLES FOR LARGE TROUT FLIES. 
 
 The upper part of the neck close to the head of 
 cocks and hens, generally one side of the feather re- 
 quires to be taken off": the principal thing to guard 
 against is, what I have remarked above, a rough and
 
 DESIDERATUM. 15 
 
 coarse exterior to the fly, which is too often pre- 
 valent in those dressed for sale. 
 
 Wth. — HACKLES FOR SALMON FLIES. 
 
 The feathers that gracefully hang down at each 
 side of black and red cocks of the game breed ; the 
 same feathers from cocks of a light-bluish cast, and 
 those of dappled-brown ones. The tv, o last are much 
 esteemed in the Highlands of Scotland, where keen 
 fishers keep one of each, as they are often difficult 
 to be found. 
 
 I knew an old Highlander a good salmon-fisher, 
 who I have often seen in winter fishing with fly, 
 search a whole district for a week ere he could get 
 one to suit his fancy. He was the greatest enthusiast 
 I ever saw, in every thing pertaining to angling, 
 and I have met with many. He could or would talk 
 of nothirg else. 
 
 I2th. — DUBBING FOR ALL FLIES, WITH OR WITH- 
 OUT THE HaCKLE. 
 
 As so many kinds are used, I shall only enume- 
 rate those which I have found to be the best, viz., — 
 The fur of a hare-lug and foot ; that of a water- 
 rat and mole; the soft down of several furs, which 
 ladies' tippets and children's caps are made of: — all
 
 in THE ANGLERS 
 
 kinds of colours and sliades may be found in tlieni. 
 Very good dubbing may be obtained from the hair 
 which plasterers use to mix with their mortar. 
 Swine's wool dyed yellow or orange colour, make 
 good dubbing for salmon flies ; it can only be got 
 from them when dead, and that in small quantities. 
 The furs and wools ought to be torn asunder, and 
 intimately blended together, so as to obtain the de- 
 sired colour. Yellow or green floss silk is often re- 
 quired to mix with them ; likewise the finest wool 
 of the same colours. 
 
 IStL TO IMITATE WHAT AiPPEARS LIKE HAIRS AT 
 
 THE END OF THE FLY. 
 
 These, many anglers affirm, when imitated, are 
 of great service, but I am sceptical as to that, for 
 they adhere to the bend of the hook wiien drawn 
 through the water ; however, as they make the fly 
 complete, and cause it to approximate more closely 
 to the real one, I have put down what I once made 
 use of to resemble them, viz., the hair of several 
 animals, black, brown and grey ; the coarse spotted 
 feathers of the domestic drake, also the whiskers of 
 the water-rat and mouse.
 
 DESIDERATUM. 17 
 
 \4<tL HINTS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE FLY- 
 DRESSER. 
 
 The great error into which most fly-dressers full, 
 is putthig on too much hackle round the body of 
 the fly; this makes it bushy, unseemly to the sight, 
 and far from the appearance of nature. The fish 
 soon perceive its uncouthness, turn from it with 
 loathiniT, and refuse to take the bait. I have often 
 had occular demonstrations of this, when screened 
 from their view by a rock or tree, and on a fly 
 being off^ered them not exactly to their taste. At a 
 (Hstance they appeared eagerly to approach, but when 
 close to it, they turned tail in seeming disgust. The 
 London dressers, and many others, have this pal- 
 pable and glaring defect, which they copy from 
 Walton. Nota. — Therefore, a trout-fly ought to have 
 no more than from one to three turns of the hackle 
 round its body ; this makes it light and airy. As a 
 proof of this, catch a water-fly, you will perceive 
 the legs of it are invariably beneath the wings and 
 shoulder, and never extend to the tail, a small part 
 of them only beautifully projecting out under llie 
 shoulder and head. 
 
 It appears to me inexplicable, that so observing a 
 poet as Walton was, and possessed of such a reflec- 
 tive mind, as his works fully evince, could overlook 
 this, the more so as it pertained greatly to his much- 
 loved meditative recreation. It is scarcely possible 
 B
 
 18 THi: angler's 
 
 to suppose but he must have examined, at the water 
 yide, the natural fly thousands of" times with that 
 precision necessary to imitate it. — Did he copy from 
 the old school before him, as others have done since 
 from him ? 
 
 \bth. BIRDS WHOSE FEATHERS ARE MOST ESTEEM- 
 ED FOR DRESSING FLIES. 
 
 The red and black turkey ; the common and 
 silver pheasant ; the hawk, owl, moor-fowl and 
 partridge; the wood-cock, snipe, golden and green 
 plover; doterel, swallow, hen blackbird, thrush, 
 corn-buntin, field-fare, starling, landrail, sparrow, 
 wren, lark, wild-drake, feal, jay, king-fisher, bull of 
 the bog, argus bird of Sumatra, jungle-cock of 
 India, peacock, Guinea-hen, ostrich ; all these I 
 dress with. Note, — A number of foreign birds have 
 very fine feathers ; they may be procured at the 
 shops where preserved birds are sold, as they im- 
 port great numbers. Some are injured in putting 
 up by the artists, which are disposed of at very 
 reasonable prices.
 
 DESIDERATUM. 19 
 
 16M. THE AUI'IIOR's MANNER OF DRESSING THE 
 
 ARTIFICIAL PLY, BEGINNING WITH THE SILK- 
 WORM GUT, AND FOLLOWING UP THE TROGRES- 
 SIVE STAGES TILL FINISHED. 
 
 1st THE GUT. 
 
 Straighten it with a piece of India-rubber, or with 
 your fingers, the first is preferable; take the finest 
 end, flatten it between your teeth at least a quarter 
 of an inch, this makes it lie close to the hook. If 
 you intend to tie the smallest one to it, wax the part 
 flattened ; this will make it adhere firmly, take less 
 winding of the silk upon it, and enable you to dress 
 finer. Note, — By flattening the gut with the teeth 
 it also makes it rough, and when tied on, it will 
 break ere it comes from the hook. 
 
 2d, — THE HOOK. 
 
 Take it up with the left thumb and fore-finger, 
 the bent part turned downwards to the left, the 
 shank projecting out at the extremity of the thumb 
 and finger ; take the silk and twist it round the 
 hook three or four times, a little from the end, give 
 a hitch, which will fasten the silk to the hook. It will 
 appear thus, — Keep it firm in the same 
 
 position, take C^^ ] up the gut, prepared as 
 above, and place it under the shank of the hook, 
 twist the silk round the gut and hook, six or eight 
 times, and give it another hitch. The hook, silk
 
 20 THE ANGLFR's 
 
 ami gut, will then appear thus, — Cut 
 
 off the gut close to the hitch, it Ci^^i will 
 
 then resemble nearly a tied-on-bait-hook, thus, — 
 Which finishes the first process. 
 
 Second Stage. — Take up the tinsel, still keeping 
 the hook as at the commencement, place one end of 
 it close to the silk and gut on the top of the shank, 
 the other end to the left, thus, — S^ Put 
 
 it once or twice round towards the C^i left: 
 
 bring it back again ; put the silk round it, and 
 fasten with a hitch. It will then appear thus, — 
 Then take hold of the tinsel with the 
 thumb and fore-finger of the right 
 hand, and bend it back and forward, which will soon 
 break it close to the hitch, much nearer than it can 
 be cut off. It will then resemble a bait-hook, with 
 a piece of tinsel at the end, thus, — 
 bring back the silk, by two or three 
 turns, to the right where you began, and give it a 
 hitch. It will then appear thus, — 
 which finishes the second process. 
 It is now ready for the wing. 
 
 Third Stage. — The Wing. — Hold the feather 
 with the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand ; cut off 
 ;is much of it as is requisite (do not pull it off as some 
 do, which injures it much), then take hold of it with 
 the right thumb and finger, place it on the top of
 
 DESIDERATUM. 21 
 
 the hook, the inside of the feathers turned upwards, 
 open the left thumb and fore-finger to admit it, and 
 press it close with them to the hook, twist the silk 
 round both three or four times, and fasten by a hitch, 
 it will then appear thus, — _^^^^^^^^ Take the 
 scissors, and cutofFthe thick CZT^ ! end, pre- 
 
 viously raising it with the thumb and fore-finger of 
 the right hand, — turn the silk two or three times 
 firmly round, just upon where you cut off, and 
 fasten with a hitch, it will then appear thus, — 
 Turn up the wing to the bend of the 
 hook, with the thumb and fore -finger 
 of the left hand, holding the gut tight with the right 
 hand closed, — make the shoulder of the fly, by put- 
 ting round the silk twice or thrice. Keep it tight 
 (the silk) with the middle finger of the left hand, — 
 draw up the wing with the fore-finger and thumb of 
 the right one, keeping still tight the silk, which is 
 round the shoulder, with the middle finger of the left 
 hand, and bring it round in front of the wing once or 
 twice, and give a hitch, — the hook will now appear 
 thus, — '^^ Then bring the silk before the 
 
 shoulder, C^^ where there is still the smallest 
 
 possible part of the hook seen, — roll the silk over 
 it and the gut two or three times, to make the 
 head, and also the same number of times round 
 tlie gut only, — bring it before the wing again, and 
 make a hitch, — now take a needle, and divide the 
 wing equally into two parts, — draw the silk through 
 the centre to the right, between the shoulder and
 
 22 THE angler's 
 
 wing, — bring it round and through the centre to the 
 left, two or three times alternately, when the wings 
 will stand in a natural position, and of course beau- 
 tifully, — give a hitch before the wings to secure 
 what you have done. It will then appear thus, — 
 ready to dress any %. 
 
 Fourth Stage. — The Hackle. — Take it up, — 
 trim it, by pulling off the herel on each side of 
 the root, — cut it short, leaving only a small part for 
 the silk to fix it to the hook, thus, — .^^^^^ Place 
 it between the wings, fasten, by roll- 
 
 ing the silk round behind the wings, two or three times, 
 and secure by a hitch, it will now appear thus, — 
 
 N^^^^ Whatever kind of dubbing you intend 
 C ^ I " to use, must be put on the silk, which 
 now must be well waxed, for the fur to adhere 
 to it ; twist it with the finger and thumb of the 
 right hand ; roll it round the hook ; should floss silk 
 be used in lieu of fur, it must be tied on after the 
 hackle, and put round before it. The following ex- 
 ample will shew how the dubbing of a hare-lug is 
 put on. Pull some fur off it — mix it well — twist it on 
 the silk — wrap it half up the body of the fly, fasten 
 by a hitch ; then take hold of the hackle and twist it 
 firmly round the fur in a spiral form, and fasten it at 
 the place where the silk is, it will now appear thus, — 
 Take ofF the tip of the hackle by giving 
 it a sharp twitch, which is much better
 
 DESIDKRATUM. 23 
 
 than cutting it off with scissors; put a little more fur 
 on the silk, wrap it round the hook till near the 
 tinsel ; fasten by three hitches, and it is finished. 
 
 This manner of dressing a fly-hook makes it ap- 
 pear so true to nature, that when holding it with the 
 tip of the wings between the finger and thumb, and 
 looking at it even with a microscope, it will deceive 
 many observers. The hackle appears beneath the 
 wings and shoulder, the head projecting out, making 
 the resemblance to the natural fly complete. This 
 is the acme of fly-dressing, which the author was 
 taught nearly half-a-century ago, by Mr Walter 
 Tait of Kelso, in Roxburghshire, the best dresser 
 of a fly in Scotland. The advantages accruing from 
 this mode of dressing are these : — It makes the wings 
 stand better out ; gives a shoulder to the fly the same 
 colour as the wings, which the natural fly possesses ; 
 the head peeps out from the shoulder, thus resemb- 
 ling nature that nothing can surpass it. 
 
 Another method of putting the Wings on. 
 — Although not equal to the first, yet as it has novelty 
 to recommend it, and may amuse some, I here in- 
 sert. Take from the same bird a feather of the 
 right wing, and one from the left to correspond. 
 Cut off a piece of each, enough to make two wings ; 
 but avoid breaking the texture, as on this depends 
 the beauty of the wings ; put them inside to inside 
 together; hold the hook between the thumb and 
 fore-finger of the left hand ; take up the wings with
 
 24 THE ANGI.Eu'h 
 
 tlie ri^ht thumb and fore-finger, place tliem between 
 the thumb and finger that holds the hook; press 
 them close, so as to keep them in the same state as 
 when cut off the feathers; take hold of the silk with 
 the riglit hand, still keeping firm hold of the wings 
 with the left ; give it three or four turns over the 
 root of the wings, gut, and hook, and make a hitch 
 to fasten ; cut off the superfluous feathers, and form 
 tlie head. They will appear so like a fly's wings 
 that the most quick-sighted person will be unable to 
 discover one from the other. Note. — Should the 
 wings be too close, take a fine needle and separate 
 a piece of each, which pull off or cut with sharp- 
 pointed scissors. This is a very good way to put 
 the wings on, but by no means equal to the first, 
 from the fly having no shoulder. 
 
 16//?, — SALMON-FLIES. 
 
 It has been said by all writers who have treated 
 on this subject, that salmon-flies ought to have gaudy 
 feathers and colours, with two or three wings ; I can 
 only say, T have never found them serviceable when 
 I have fished, with the exception of some rivers in 
 the Highlands of Scotland, which are dark from the 
 tributary rivulets that run into them, having their 
 source in bogs and mosses ; but even then they will 
 generally give the preference to the one dressed to 
 imitate the natural fly ; at the same time, I must
 
 DESIDERATUM. 25 
 
 confess 1 have met with much success in that 
 country, from flies I have dressed with brilhant 
 colours, which I attribute to their being a change 
 from seeing the others so often thrown over them, 
 which, no doubt, at times gave them a touch of 
 their sharp points. I never fish with more than two 
 wings to the fly, as they prevent the wings playing, 
 which is a great desideratum, and, in my opinion, a 
 luring enticement for fish to rise. Of late years I 
 have tried these gaudy flies in the clear rivers of 
 the south of Scotland, and have found them some- 
 times take, but not so well as in the northern rivers 
 of that country. 
 
 Mth. SALMON-FLY TO DRESS. 
 
 Dress them in a similar manner as the trout -fly, 
 with this exception, that the hackle must be brought 
 along the body to the end of it, with a tip of orange, 
 yellow, red or blue wool, and the herle of a peacock 
 or ostrich feather to make the head. But to be 
 more explicit, and brief also, by not going over the 
 whole wi?WM^«« of fly-dressing, proceed as follows: — 
 Whip the silk twice round the hook, — put the gut 
 below it, — tie on and cut the gut close to where you 
 fasten, — take a tuft of any of the above colours for 
 the tip, — tie and secure at the same place, — bring 
 the waxed silk down to where the wing is to be 
 placed, and arrange it in every respect as directed
 
 26 
 
 for the tront-fly. Then take the herle of a peacock 
 or ostrich feather, wrap it round to make the head 
 of the fly. The herle claps close to the hook when 
 put into the water, and makes it look beautiful. 
 Next put on the hackle, then the tinsel, then four 
 or five peacock herles ; fasten with the silk — twist a 
 little of any of the above coloured dubbings once or 
 twice round, close to the root of the wings, — bring 
 the silk to the left where the tip is, and fasten ; then 
 take hold of the herles, — bring them up to the silk 
 in a spiral form, and secure them by a hitch, — cut 
 them close off; bring up the tinsel in a similar man- 
 ner, then the hackle, and fasten also by three or 
 four hitches, and it is complete. This is the author's 
 way of dressing a salmon-fly, which he was taught 
 by an old gentleman at Kelso, in Scotland, and since, 
 he seldom dresses otherwise, as he considers it the 
 best. 
 
 However, there is another method he sometimes 
 practises, which is this : — The body of the fly must 
 be dressed previous to the wings being put on, 
 which may be done two ways, either by placing the 
 whole part of the feather intended for the two wings, 
 and cut a piece from the centre to divide them, or 
 place each wing on separately, — both ways has the 
 same effect in not breaking the texture of the feather. 
 The feather from which the wings are taken must 
 be placed on a table or board, the fore-finger of the 
 left hand employed to keep it flat; then cut off 
 across as much as is required with a sharp pen-
 
 DF.SIDEPATUM. 27 
 
 knife, which place upon the top of the hook, the 
 inside of the feather downwards, fasten with the 
 silk, and in doing so, be wary not to break the 
 texture of the wings, as that would be an irretriev- 
 able injury, and cause you to commence again as 
 at first. When the wings are put on and fastened, 
 take the herle of a peacock or ostrich feather, — tie it 
 on behind the wings — wrap it round to make the 
 head — fasten, and it is finished. The wq'ngs stand 
 well, and when in the water play to perfection. 
 Note. — The great drawback to this mode of dressing- 
 is, the fly has no shoulder ; however, the wings, as I 
 said, stand well, and when in the water play inimit- 
 ably. There is a way which some have introduced, 
 that is, dressing on gut with a loop close to the head 
 of the fly, for the fly-line to tie to. I do not approve 
 of this method ; loops ought never to be used, either 
 on the running, casting or fly-line, or to fix on flies 
 or bait-hcoks ; whatever agitates or increases the mo- 
 tion of the water, must be avoided. The flies dressed 
 this way are certainly very convenient to carry in a 
 box, and handy to put on at the water ; but this does 
 not in any measure compensate for their clumsy 
 dangling appearance, in or on the water, with the 
 loop and knot close to the fly. It has been said the 
 fly lasts longer, no doubt, but the following simple 
 method of strengthening the gut at the head of the 
 fly, I shall here give as I got it from an old soldier, 
 who kept it a secret, and never divulged it, I have 
 reason to believe, to any other person. I had long
 
 OS THE ANGLKKS 
 
 O 
 
 bserved, on meeting witli him iit the water side, that 
 liis small flies, when closely examined, had something 
 particular at the head of the hook ; his casting and 
 fly-lines were wrapt round at the knots in the same 
 manner. I inquired often what it was, but always got 
 the same answer, — That it was some line to strengthen 
 the srut. At last I asked him if it was fine white 
 silk ? He replied. No ; it was a secret ; but he would 
 divulge it to me. 
 
 The secret is as follows : — Take some of the finest 
 ends of gut — it cannot be too fine — put them into 
 your mouth — chew^ them a minute or two, then take 
 them out — they will appear as if destroyed, not so, — 
 pull them singly between the nails of your finger and 
 thumb, which flattens them; they ought to be damp 
 when used, which is in this manner: — Make a knot 
 at the end of the gut (not the one you intend to 
 dress the fly upon), and fasten it to a nail or pin, 
 take hold of the other end, and wrap the prepared 
 gut round firm, leaving enough to tie the fly upon. 
 This strengthens the gut, and it will never chafe, 
 even with a salmon-fly ; the casting and fly-line may 
 be done in the same way, which lasts much longer 
 than silk, and it has this advantage, that it is almost 
 imperceptible. 
 
 FLIES. 
 
 The following ones I have ever found the best, 
 which fishers ought always to have with them, and
 
 DESIDERATUM. 29 
 
 can never fail of success, either on the Continent or 
 the United Kingdoms, in all waters, provided they 
 are not over flooded, and even then, if a fish rise at 
 the natural fly. This statement will, no doubt, sur- 
 prise not a few brothers of the angle, as Walton ap- 
 pelates them ; but from fifty years experience I know 
 it to be a truism. They are as follows: — 
 
 1st. — A red-cock hackle over a hare-lug, or peacock 
 herel, black ostrich herel or yellow silk, with or with- 
 out a wing or tinsel. Should the flat tinsel or cord be 
 put round the body, it must be in a spiral form, and 
 very few turns, as I do not approve of much tinsel, 
 and in general, only put one turn of it at the ex- 
 tremity of the tail. The wings may be made from 
 any of the birds mentioned in No. 15. Tinsel, gold. 
 
 2d. — A black-cock hackle or green -plover top, 
 over a water-rat's fur — brown or yellow fur, or yel- 
 low silk also, with or without a wing or tinsel. 
 Wings the same as No. 1. Tinsel, silver, 
 
 Sd. — Wren hackle over brown fur or silk, with or 
 v/ithout wing or tinsel Wings from the same as 
 above. Tinsel, gold. 
 
 4tk. — Hare-lug, with gold or silver tip at the end — 
 vary it by mixing green or yellow fur with it, or the 
 finest wool of the same colours. Wings from the 
 partridge, wood-cock or dotterel.
 
 30 THE angler's 
 
 blh. — Yellow hackle, from ii white-cock's hackle, 
 dyed yellow, dubbing yellow silk, fur, or the finest 
 wool dyed yellow. — Tinsel, gold tip. Wings, — lark, 
 dotterel, or yellow feathers in the tail of the green plo- 
 ver, or the yellow part of the feather in the wing of a 
 thrush. \st Note. — I do not put these in rotation, from 
 their intrinsic merits in my estimation, as I have found 
 them all equally good ; Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5, without 
 wings, I fish with ; as dippers they take well, and 
 when the water is clear and small, they are excellent. 
 2d Note. — For the bodies of files, an almost infinite 
 number of shades may be got by blending together 
 the following colours, viz., — blue and white make a 
 lead colour — blue, black and white, an ash colour — 
 blue and green, a violet — blue, pink and white, a 
 light green — blue, white and yellow, a dun blue — 
 black and red, a brown — black and white, a russet ; 
 in short, you may get any colour to imitate the fly 
 on the water ; therefore, by having a little of each 
 fur in your dressing book, when at the river side, 
 you cannot fail to be successful. 
 
 ON DIPPERS OR BOBBERS, 
 
 These I dress on short pieces of gut. In fixing 
 them on the line, that nearest the casting-line ought to 
 have the longest gut, the others progressively decreas- 
 ing to the trail thus, —
 
 DESIDEHATUM. 
 
 31 
 
 Tliis method of putting them on I found out many 
 years ago, from observing the trout often miss the 
 dippers on rising at them ; but very seldom the trail 
 fly. I could not conceive the reason why for some 
 time, till it struck me it was occasioned by their con- 
 tact with the fly-line. I immediately adopted this 
 mode, and found my conjecture right ; and as all the 
 anglers I meet with tie them on the old way, thus, — 
 
 I here give mine, which 
 will be found the best. 
 Turn the bend of the hook to the left, take hold of 
 the gut it is fastened to, place it along the fly-line, 
 the end of it pointing to the trail-fly ; describe a 
 circle with it, put the end over the circle and fly- 
 line, bring it through and over twice and draw^ tight : 
 pull the knot so made down to that of the line, it 
 will then appear thus, — 
 cut close. This knot will 
 never slip. I have caught many salmon w^ith dip- 
 pers tied on In this way. Note. — When drawn 
 through the water, they never interfere with the fly- 
 line like the old manner of fastening them on. 
 
 THE RAPID STREAM TACKLE. 
 
 Invented by the author twenty- five years ago. The 
 flv'hook should be fixed on the end of eachcjut; this
 
 3*2 THE angler's 
 
 may be ihought almost impossible for a midge-hook, 
 nevertheless it is easily done by the following pro- 
 cess : — Prepare the gut in the same manner as that 
 described under the head of dressing a trout-fly, 
 this makes it flat and rough ; tie the first gut on at 
 the end of the shank, half up the hook, then place 
 the other in contact and fasten it on ; bring the silk 
 back again to where the wings are to be put on, 
 and proceed to dress the fly as formerly directed. 
 l^ote. — This hook, if firmly tied on with the finest 
 China silk, is as secure as if it had been fixed to one 
 gut. Five or six hooks may be dressed on this line 
 as they will never entangle. It affords glorious 
 sport in rapid streams, or in deep waters when the 
 wind is high. The fly-line will appear as if the 
 hooks were all dressed on a single gut. 1 have never 
 met with any since I invented it, who knew it, al- 
 though I have fished in EnQjland, Wales and Scot- 
 land, and over part of the Continent. 
 
 THE author's riRST TRIAL WITH THE RAPID 
 STREAM TACKLE. 
 
 When residing at New Coldstream in Scodand, 
 as a proof of its utility and advantages, I may 
 mention the following feat which I effected by it, 
 not one hundred yards from Coldstream Bridge. 1 
 commenced fishing at that place. I put on the rapid 
 stream tackle, and filled a large fishing-basket in a
 
 DESIDERATUM. 33 
 
 short time; sent the servant up to the house with 
 them ; he returned immediately ; I filled it again and 
 left off; went home, counted the trout on a green plat 
 in the garden, found the number seventeen dozen and 
 five, most of them good trout, not one salmon fry 
 among them, and very few par, all caught in two 
 hours and a-half; of course I duly appreciated my 
 invention. I presume that this feat has seldom been 
 surpassed in fly-fishing. 
 
 THE BITER BIT WITH THE RAPID STREAM TACKLE. 
 
 When residino- at St Boswell's Cottage in Rox- 
 burghshire, I was angling opposite my friend Sir 
 David Erskine of Dryborough Abbey with it, and 
 caught a small par, when, on drawing it out to 
 the side, a large trout took hold of it beneath the 
 surface of the water, and sprung off like an arrow 
 from a bow. 1 thought I had got hold of a salmon, 
 it ran so strong without making its appearance. I 
 was thus obliged to be very cautious on account 
 of the smallness of the fly, which was a midge one. 
 However, he was not long in showing his large head 
 above the water, with the little par sticking between 
 his teeth, shaking it most fiercely. Immediately on 
 finding out what he was, I soon got him near enough 
 to discern distinctly that I had perfect command of 
 him, as, from his struggles, he had four or five of 
 the midge flies attached to his sides and fins.
 
 Si THE angler's 
 
 He weighed five pounds and a-half, and had, when 
 opened, several large pars in his paunch, that he had 
 devoured. 
 
 FLY-FISHING, IN A CALM OR IN SUNSHINE. 
 
 This mode of fishing is by dropping the fly in the 
 centre of the circle a trout describes on sucking 
 down a fly. It is a very amusing, as well as an ex- 
 cellent way of catching fish in a calm, sunshine, or 
 muddy water, and even at night, if the circle can be 
 perceived. Deep pools are the best; your fly-line must 
 be of the finest gut, two yards long, tapering from 
 the casting-line, with one hook attached to it. Keep 
 a sharp look out for a circle to enable you to drop 
 your fly with quickness and precision into the centre : 
 when you attain this, you are almost certain of hook- 
 ing the trout. It is often immaterial what colour 
 your fly is, he being so eager to get another fly from 
 so recently smacking his chops with the first dainty. 
 The largest trout are taken this way. I remember 
 well, when I was a very young man, but a knowing 
 angler, fishing with some expert brothers of the angle, 
 the sun was shining so vividly on the face of the 
 water, that I left them and walked half-a-mile to a 
 deep pool on the Tweed, where I continued fishing 
 till their arrival. 
 
 " What sport ?" asked an old major, 
 
 *' Pretty fair," said I.
 
 DESIDERATUM. 85 
 
 •' Where have you caught them ?" inquired ho. — 
 ** Why, I have not seen you throw your line tliese 
 ten minutes." 
 
 " No, indeed, but I am on the watch." 
 
 " For what ?" 
 
 " Why, a trout taking a fly to be sure." 
 
 " What then ?" said he. 
 
 " Why, in that case I am certain of him," — with 
 that one took down a fly, I was quick upon him, 
 and brought him out. I immediately let him see 
 what I had caught, the basket being nearly full of 
 large trout. 
 
 " No, no; that wont do, you have caught them 
 with a silver hook." 
 
 " You are mistaken, major," retorted I ; " whicii 
 you will be convinced of by adopting my plan ;" he 
 immediately did so, and soon had reason to alter his 
 opinion of my having had recourse to the silver hook, 
 from the number of trout in my basket. 
 
 THE LANDING-HOOK. 
 
 It ought to have a shank one yard long, in three 
 pieces, attached by two joints, and slides made in the 
 same manner as the slide or joint of a lady's parasol, 
 which may be kept in the basket, and taken out 
 when required, in a few seconds, and put up with 
 one hand, while the other is employed in running 
 the fish, or holding the rod. The landing-hooks
 
 36 THE angler's 
 
 sold in the shops all screw on, and often take niiicli 
 time in finding and putting up, whereas those which 
 I recommend, and have long used, require nothing 
 but to draw the slides over the joints. 
 
 THE TICKLEll 
 
 Is one of the most useful things to have with you 
 when angling for salmon. It is a piece of lead, 
 six inches long, formed like a pencil, which nmst 
 be kept bright. The manner of using it is as fol- 
 lows : — When a salmon gets sulky and lies down, 
 throwing in stones seldom moves him. Have there- 
 fore recourse to the tickler. Bend it round the top 
 of your rod, — give it a shake, when it will run 
 down the line to the hook, which will so surprise and 
 confound him, when he finds his probocis tickled, 
 and put him in such a vagary, that he often leaps, 
 tosses, flies and splashes; at this time, keep your 
 finger off the running-line, and, if possible, stand 
 opposite to him, with the rod almost erect ; when you 
 find him a little steady after this brush, endeavour 
 to get his head down the stream, that the water may 
 get into his gills and out at his masticators, which 
 will soon nearly drown him in his own element, and 
 make him call out peccavi ; should the bank be pre- 
 cipitous, use the landing-hook, whip it into him, any 
 where, head, back or belly, deil ma care, and se- 
 cure the monarch of the flood.
 
 DESIDKRAIUM. 37 
 
 MINNOW FISHING. 
 
 The spring and autumnal months are the best to 
 angle with minnow, as in those months they are 
 scarce, while in summer they are so numerous that 
 the fish get satiated with them. They seem to re- 
 semble the Aldermen of London ; nothing will go 
 down their maws, but what is dainty and diffi- 
 cult to be had. There are three ways of fishing with 
 minnow; two with dead, and one with live bait. 
 The following is my method, which I have found to 
 be the best: — I fish v/ith only two hooks, one large 
 and the other small, but strong, tied on thus, — 
 ^ Put the large hoc)k in at the mouth 
 
 and out near the tail of the min- 
 now, — the small one hooking the lower and upper 
 jaw, which prevents the water geting in ; some em- 
 ploy a needle and thread for this, but the other way 
 is more quick and efficient, and may be done in 
 the dark, when fishing at night. The second way 
 is to fish witli one hook, as follows : — Enter the hook 
 near the tail of the minnow, and bring it out at 
 the mouth, — insert a piece of lead or a small pebble 
 into the body to cause it to sink, and close up the 
 mouth by a stich or two of fine white silk or cotton 
 thread. The minnow will then go head downwards ; 
 the trout, no doubt, take it for one that has been 
 swimming upon the surface of the water, and eagerly 
 tike hold of it. This is a good way of fishing in
 
 38 
 
 THE ANGLERS 
 
 deep waters, and very amusing. There is no oc- 
 casion for a swivel, as no motion is necessary for 
 the minnow but one to sink and raise it alternately. 
 The manner of fishing with a live minnow or small 
 fish, 1 first saw hi France and Belgium, and is much 
 practised. The hook they use is a double small 
 one. The minnow fixed to it a little in front of the 
 back fin, a pretty heavy plummet, sugar-loaf shape, 
 is attached to the extreme end of the line, which is 
 of single gut, from one to two yards from the bait. 
 To prevent the minnow entangling the line, a swivel 
 is used, which revolves round the fine gut line as 
 the minnow swims. This mode of fishing does 
 dreadful execution. The tackle in the water appears 
 thus, — 
 
 Swivel 
 
 ON PRESERVING MINNOWS FOR FISHING. 
 
 The best wav is the following: — Take a pretty sized 
 tin-box, half fill it with the finest salt, and as you catch 
 the minnows put them into it ; close the box and 
 i^ive it a shake, which immediately kills and covers
 
 DESIDEIJATL'M. 39 
 
 them with salt. Excliule the air from them, they 
 will keep several months, and appear as if just 
 caught. This is a secret I had from a noted minnow 
 angler. Note. — The artificial minnows sold in tlie 
 shops are good for nothing. I have tried all kinds 
 of them without success. Therefore, I conceive 
 they are like the razors which the countryman bought 
 from the rogue in the market, '• made for sale, not 
 for use." 
 
 TO CATCH MINNOWS. 
 
 The quickest way without the net, is to fish for 
 them with two or three artificial midge-flies, dress- 
 ed upon double-nothings. The next best is with 
 a piece of 'small red worm covering the point of 
 the hook. I have seen many ladies very expert 
 in this mode of fishing. 
 
 FORM OF THE TACKLE THE AUTHOR MAKES USE OF 
 TO CATCH MINNOW. 
 
 -^ " -3 • 
 
 Baited hook. Three hooks not baited. 
 
 The moment you feel the minnow at the baited 
 liook strike quick upwards, when you will generally 
 capture two or three.
 
 40 THF, angler's 
 
 TROLLING AND MINNOW TACKLE USED BY THE 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 Some anglers use a number of liooks for this. 
 I have seen four, five, and even six. I consider 
 two only are requisite, and any more are super- 
 fluous, as they only make the deception more pal- 
 pably seen. The best fishers I ever saw had no more, 
 with one drafT<Tinff behind bare, about eii>ht inches 
 from the bait, which often killed more than the two 
 it was attached to, for when the fish missed the 
 bait in strikin<T, the drao; almost invariably hooked 
 it. This I krow from long experience. The 
 largest fish are caught this way, and I know some so 
 passionately fond of this mode of angling, that when 
 the water is in trim they never fish otherwise.
 
 DESIDERATUM. 
 
 41 
 
 APPEARANCE OF THE TROLLING TACKLE, BEFORE 
 IT IS FIXED TO THE CASTING-LINE. 
 
 End of the Trolling Tackle. 
 
 Lead. 
 
 Swivel. 
 Lead. 
 
 Lead. 
 
 Swivel. 
 
 Lead. 
 
 Bait hook. 
 
 b 
 
 u 
 
 Salmon liook, 
 
 Salmon hook for dra^r 
 
 .b
 
 42 THE angler's 
 
 The strongest single gut must be selected for this 
 tackle. It is surprising with what avidity and force 
 they take the lure, and when hooked, their strength 
 HI struggling is wonderful. Note» — I again repeat, 
 that no loops ought to be used. Tie this tackle on 
 with a double knot to the casting-line. 
 
 MANNER OF BAITING WITH A TROUT OR PAR-TAIL. 
 
 Cut a piece off the tail thus, — 
 Trim it by taking a little off' at the 
 sides, put it on the salmon hook thus, — 
 
 ZD 
 
 Note. — The tails of many other fish are equally 
 good to fish with. I saw a gentleman, when I was 
 fishing with fly two j'^ears ago on the Tweed in win- 
 ter, kill several salmon with young herring or sprats 
 he had got from Edinburgh. I dare say never was 
 such a thing done on the Tweed before. I suppose 
 the salmon lives upon them when roving in the sea. 
 
 Hints to tyros, and those who wish to com- 
 mence, BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 A thorough bred piscator minds neither wind, 
 weather, hunger nor cold ; is always patient, inde- 
 fatigable, cool and collected ; meets with reverses
 
 DESIDEKATIM. 43 
 
 like a philosopher, and ever cheers himself with 
 the hope of retrieving at every throw, what has 
 escaped, or others equally valuable, to compen- 
 sate for his assiduity. Without these necessary quali- 
 fications, in a greater ratio than mediocrity, none 
 need attempt to learn this truly pristine recreation. 
 If they do, they are certain (and not seldom) of 
 meeting toil, vexation, and trouble, with all theii- 
 direful concomitants, — will soon lag, and in lieu of 
 that calm serenity which all true anglers feel in en- 
 joying this exhilarating pastime, their spirits will be 
 eat up with ennui and spleen, too often accompanied 
 with I hat bane of all happiness, envy of those who 
 nre more successful than themselves. 
 
 THINGS I^FOUISITE TO HAVE WHEN ANGLING. 
 
 As an angler ought never to depend upon any 
 adventitious aid at the water side, the following- 
 articles, therefore, are essentially necessary, that he 
 should always have in a pocket-book with him, viz., 
 different coloured silk as fine as possible — a piece of 
 pitch, or shoemakers' wax — a knife — a pair of dress- 
 ing scissars — a hackle-holder, light, and not larger 
 than a bed-curtain ring — not like the clumsy heavy 
 ones sold in the shops'— some hackles, red, black, and 
 yellow,— a few herils of the peacock and ostrich 
 feathers — some feathers for wings — a little of the 
 different coloured dubbings — some gut — spare rings
 
 44- THE angler's 
 
 for the rod, vvitli a few hooks all sizes — also some 
 strong black thread, to mend the rod in case of 
 need. It is necessary also to have a small gim- 
 let, in the event of your rod breaking at the top 
 joint; this will enable you to clear the pipe, sliould 
 the wood be left in it. 1 have seen many anglers 
 at a non-plus when this has happened, and which, 
 had they been provident, this dilemma might have 
 been easily remedied. 
 
 TO STAIN GUT BY A SIMPLE PROCESS. 
 
 Put a httle warm water into a basin, with a small 
 piece of alum, and a few drops of ink ; when the alum 
 is dissolved, immerse the^ut, and let it remain six or 
 eight hours, and you will have attained a permanent 
 and beautiful water-colour for your gut. Tea-leaves, 
 and those of the oak, walnut, and many others, dried 
 and infused with a little alum in it, will stain the gut 
 any colour, and be equally lasting. Note — Some 
 anglers think that gut, after it is dyed, is less dura- 
 ble ; it may be so, but stained in this manner, I know, 
 has no bad effect. At the same time, I must remark 
 that I never could perceive any advantage coloured 
 gut had over that used as imported from Spain.
 
 DK3IDERATUM. 45 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS. 
 
 Isti From November to April, fish rise and bite 
 best in the warmest time of the day. 
 
 2d, In hot days, it is immaterial what quarter the 
 wind comes from. 
 
 3d, When the weather is cold and windy, angle- 
 on the weather-side of the river, as the fish lie there 
 for warmth and quiet. But when the weather is 
 warm, and a good breeze on the river, angle on the 
 lee side, as the fish come to it to pick up the flies, 
 which the wind drives over. 
 
 -ith, In the spring, when angling for trout in very 
 cold weather, even accompanied with frost and snow, 
 they take the smallest midge flies, — double-nothings 
 when the water is clear. 
 
 bth, When the day is bright and the sun gleaming 
 at times, and the water very clear, always angle 
 with dark coloured flies, the smallest you can dress, 
 as it is impossible to imitate the natural fly ; but the 
 fish in such weather, if the artificial one is large, will 
 discover it to be a counterfeit. 
 
 6th, In salmon fishing, keep the fly always in con- 
 stant motion. At the head of a rapid stream, draw 
 the fly against it ; but at the middle and bottom of 
 it, across, as I have observed eight times in ten, that 
 they follow the fly, and lake it in the act of describ- 
 ing the segment of a circle across the stream. Trout
 
 46 rnK angler's 
 
 also take the fly best when crossing the stream, not 
 when drawn against it, as most anglers do. 
 
 Ith-i Immediately on hooking a fish (a term only 
 used for a large one by brothers of the angle), lower 
 your elbow, and push forward the butt end of your 
 rod, which will cause it to stand almost erect, only a 
 little bent at the top by the weight of the fish. Keep 
 the line tight, but do not pull ; if he runs out let go 
 the line ; should he struggle and leap, do not check 
 him, but the moment he seems quiet, reel the line 
 up, and keep it tight again, which will soon tire him. 
 
 %thi Fish the side of the river next you first (keep- 
 ing out of sight), so far down, then return to where 
 you commenced, and fish the middle, and as far as 
 you can reach across. 
 
 9//^, Endeavour to have the wind at your back 
 and the sun before you, so that the shadow of your- 
 self, rod and line, may not be seen. 
 
 lOf^, When a fish rises, strike quick, but gently, 
 and upright when you can, keeping the elbow of 
 your rod -arm close to your side, which will prevent 
 you from breaking the line in striking. 
 
 lU^, In fly fishing, keep as much of the line out 
 of the water as possible, that it may not disturb the 
 water and frighten the fish. 
 
 12^/i, In holding the rod, when fishing for salmon 
 or large fish, place one hand below the reel, the 
 other above it, encircling the line and rod, to pre- 
 vent the line from running off the reel when throw- 
 ing the rod. What is greatly conducive to sue-
 
 DtSIDEKATLM. 47 
 
 cess in angling, is to cast the line, so that the fly 
 may touch the water first, and the least possible part 
 of the line afterwards. This art may be attained by 
 paying attention to the following directions : — Hold 
 the rod, as directed above ; stand erect ; should the 
 right hand be uppermost, bring the line round the 
 left shoulder with a sweep of the rod ; throw out 
 and check it when nearly at its greatest extension, 
 by giving the rod a quick jerk backwards, which 
 will retard the line and propel the fly, and cause it 
 to touch the water first. The body, in casting the 
 line, ought never to be thrown back or forward, nor 
 ought it to diverge to the right or left ; neither ought 
 it, after the line is cast, to stoop forward, which ap- 
 pears awkward, and is not seldom ridiculed. In 
 angling, you ought always to stand at ease ; the 
 weight of the body alternately on the right and left 
 foot. In short, I heard an accomplished French- 
 woman say [in Scotland^ where the first rate anglers 
 are to he found), that as much effect and elegance 
 might be displayed in throwing the line, running 
 the fish, and standing, in angling, as in walking a 
 minuit, dancing a waltz or a quadrille. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 I am now arrived at where I intend to close this 
 little treatise, which contains part of the knowledge 
 I have acquired from a practice of nearly fifty years.
 
 48 THE angler's desideratum. 
 
 1 have endeavoured to make it plain and easy to the 
 reader; and I trust the new liglit which I have 
 thrown upon the subject, will be favourably received 
 by the whole fraternity of anglers, from the vener- 
 able, reflective, and accomplished veteran in the art, 
 to the thoughtless, giddy and vivacious schoolboy; as 
 both may be benefited and amused by its perusal. 
 I will now, for the present, make my obeisance to the 
 reader, and again intimate, that I intend to produce 
 another piscatory work soon, (provided this meets 
 encouragement), which will fully explain all kinds 
 of bait and fly-fishing, f.er mere per terrain. No- 
 thing will be inserted in it but what I have expe- 
 rienced, or had ocular demonstration of, from the 
 sportive minnow of the brook, to the voracious shark 
 of the ocean. The anecdotes relative to anglers 
 and angling, will be replete with harmless jocularity 
 and fun, from the reminiscences of expert anglers, 
 garrulous old soldiers, and sailors. 
 
 THE END.