taking fish that swim up the stream seeking food, which the water brings down with it. Whirlpools, the falls of Mills, under Bridges, and Eddies near hollow banks, are favourite haunts; and in the summer all fish bite keener in rapid, stony, gravelly rivers, than in such as run gently, and have slimy, muddy bottoms.

In May, especially if the morning proves cold, (altho' there be no frost) fish seldom bite until the day becomes warmer; if cold all the day, they bite best where the sun shines, not at all in the shady parts of the river.

When the day is dark or lowering, and a gentle whistling wind plays on the water, or a fine mistling rain falls without violence; likewise when Trout leap out of the water, and Pike shoot after other fishes, and also when a sudden shower has a little mudded and raised the water, if the Angler tries on the sides of the stream at the ground, with brandling, gilt-tuil, or red worm, well scowered, he will have diversion.

At the conflux of rivers that ebb and flow, it is best angling at the ebb, sometimes when the tide is not strong they will bite at flood, but very rarely at high water.

In a brisk south or west wind, no matter how high it be. After floods, when the water returns within its common bounds, fines, and is of a whey colour; when a river is much swelled and it runs violent, then in any still holes by its sides, or the mouth of milder currents, such as brooks that fall into it, and the ends of bridges where the water runs quiet and is not too deep; after a flood, fish rise well, being glutted with ground-baits, they then covet the Fly.

The best winds for most common fish, are those from the south or west, or south-east when they blow warm in the spring with a good breeze, but for Salmon and Trout, a strong wind is best; in very warm weather, a cool wind from any of these points, is better than too warm; in Autumn and Winter, the warmer, the greater success. Some

affirm, that in an East or North wind the attempt to angle is absurd, the fish indeed may not take so freely for a day or two at the commencement of such winds, but if they continue in these quarters, the fish will and must come out to feed, and the Angler will not be deprived of his sport, provided he selects parts where the water is sheltered from such winds, and even in the streams where it is not, by keeping his back to the wind, and fishing near to the side he stands on. Of this opinion was WALTON, who (quoting SOLOMON, "that he who considers the wind will never sow,") observes," 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 notice that the fish lies or swims closer to the bottom, and in deeper water in winter than in summer; and also nearer the bottom in a cold day, when they get the lee-side of the water."

The days following bright star and moonlight nights are most conducive to the Angler's sport, particularly when they chance to be windy and over-cast with clouds, or with flying showers; for abstaining from food all night, the darkness of the day makes them more eager ; a bright and calm morning, that changes to cloudiness, without rain, and a good brisk wind, will bring the large fish on their feed, and also in stormy, showery weather, after each shower subsides, the Angler will not be disappointed in his amusement; but let Seasons be ever so favourable, yet neatness in his tackle, a proper knowledge of the various baits, and the resorts of the different kinds of fish, will insure the best prospect of success, and give him a decided superiority over the inattentive and unskilful.

When rivers are low from great droughts, and in the heat of the day, from May until September, (unless shadowed by clouds,) the Angler will find small encouragement.

In cold weather, when what is termed Snow broth is in the river, and if there is an hoar frost, either in Spring or more advanced part of the season, fish will not bite, except in the evening, should it prove warm and pleasant.

Until the recovering their strength after Spawning, (and that is generally in a fortnight or three weeks,) no sort of fish will take a bait; after that time, they will bite eagerly at their usual places.

In summer when clouds arise that bring storms, fish will be driven from their food, altho' they had bit well before. Thunder and Lightning are unfriendly to the Angler, and few will remain at the water side, when apprised of the result of such unfavourable weather.

It is improper to angle when a river is high, and discoloured by long continued rains, the fish are then dispersed in every part of the stream, and have left their usual haunts.

When nights are dark, or cloudy with wind, little sport is to be expected the next day; the large fish, particularly Trout, range and feed through the whole of such nights, consequently their hunger is satisfied, and for hours after, they remain quiet in their holds.

In places where sheep are frequently washed, fish are glutted with what they find there, and altho' it draws them together as to a baiting place, except after the first time they will not bite.

The following may be termed GENERAL observations for the Angler's guidance: To induce fish to come to any particular spot, boiled wheat, grains of malt, graves (from the Tallow-chandler's), cut small, should be thrown in plentifully two or three times. A composition of ground malt, blood, and clay, is the best for Salmon and Trout, to which some add Ivy Gum.

It is a very excellent method in Angling (whether with ground line at bottom, or with a float,) for all sorts of fish that take bait of which

an abundance can easily be procured, and which are meant to be fished with, to throw some of it the night before near the places either in river, pond, &c. that are to be fished the next morning; and in choosing the places where the ground is to be baited, select those on a clear gravelly bottom, in a suitable depth of water, where it is free from weeds or other obstructions, according to the season of the year, the shyness of the fish, and as near their holds as may be; if possible, not above two or three yards from the bank side the Angler stands on, and where he can play and land the fish most conveniently; in baiting, scatter the materials about as in sowing corn. If the ground-bait can only be used just before the Angler begins to fish, the quantity may be curtailed from that which would be necessary to be used a night previous. Should worms be intended to be fished with, cut them for baiting the ground, in pieces; if paste, make it into pellets; if gentles, throw in a handful, always remembering to suit the ground-bait with that upon the hook, it will cause the fish to bite at that with less. caution, and also keep them to the place.

In float angling, where the fish have not been collected by groundbaiting, the line should be two or three feet longer than the rod in river fishing, and as much shorter for standing waters; in the former, cast the bait underhand as high as possible up the stream, let it be carried down as far as the rod and line will permit without the Angler's following it, and then let him as he removes, cast it upwards again; by this means he will not alarm the fish, which his moving backwards and forwards certainly would do.

The Angler in trying a river he is unacquainted with, should seek out the Eddies, which are generally at the corner of a stream, and there the large fish lie, expecting their food which the current brings down, and which the eddy by its circular motion gives them time to seize ; the larger will not suffer the smaller fish to keep these stations, the latter are therefore to be found in rapid, but more abundantly in placid parts of the river; he need not be reminded of informing himself

which sorts of fish it produces, and to be suitably prepared, so as not to be abridged of his sport for want of a supply of the requisites to prosecute it through his own negligence; and if it be a river he means to frequent in future, he will clear those places which are over-run with wood or weeds, and make those remarks as to its being muddy, stony, or sandy, and of its swift or languid motion, which will enable him to suit his tackle to the best advantage.

If the Angler, especially when fishing with the natural fly, opens the first fish he catches, and sees what it has in the stomach, which lies from his gills to his small guts, (and which he can easily do with a sharp pen-knife without bruising,) he will perceive the food he has last swallowed, and can use fly or other bait accordingly; the same process will inform him as to the ground-bait which the fish has last fed upon.

In fishing either at top, mid-water, or at ground, strike gently and upright, and if a good fish is struck, the rod should be kept bent, which will prevent his running to the end of the line, by which he may break his hold; the strength of the line or rod should never be relied on, but the landing-net always used; in fly-fishing, the line may be sometimes touched to draw a fish nearer, but this must be done with caution, and on no account is a large fish to be attempted to be raised out of the water by it; if it is practicable after striking and turning a large fish, where the ground has been baited, the Angler should try to lead him to some convenient landing place away from the baited spot, so that it may be disturbed as little as possible.

When angling in a boat in the Thames, or any river that ebbs and flows, the boat must be set steady by an anchor or poles; begin at flood, and continue fishing until the water has half ebbed. As the tide flows, fish before, and when the water falls, follow it. Plenty of ground bait is necessary for this sort of angling, little balls of which may be squeezed round the shot above the hook, which will sink it exactly on the