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BERKELEY 

GENERAL 
LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY    OF 
CALIFORNIA 


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PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 


by  Vf-C  Colt  1 N 

of  W  life  -and  work 
of- JOHN  KVS'' 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

MEMOIR  OF  THE  AUTHOR,         .        .  xi 

INTRODUCTION, i 

ARTIFICIAL  FLIES, 3 

HINTS  ON  FLY-FISHING, 7 

LIST  OF  THE  MOST  USEFUL  NATURAL  FLIES, 
WITH  THEIR  IMITATIONS— 

The  Spring  Black,        ....  9 

The  March  Brown,       ...  10 

The  Lesser  March  Brown.    .         .  II 

The  Granam,  or  Greentail,  .     •    .  n 

The  Spring  Dun,  12 

The  Ruddy  Fly, 14 

The  Cowdung  Fly,       ....  14 

The  Dark -blue  Dun,  or  Merlin,    .         .  14 

The  Black  Caterpillars,  16 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Black-headed  Red,        .         .         .         .  17 

The  Little  Chap, 17 

The  Black  Gnat, 18 

The  Orange  Dun,  .      .         .         .         ,         .  18 

The  Grouse,         ......  19 

The  Iron  Blue, 19 

The  Green  Woodcock,          .         .         .         .  19 

The  Silk  Fly,       .         .         .         .         .         .  21 

The  Sand  Gnat,  or  Gravel  Fly,    ...  22 

The  Big  Dun, 23 

The  Bracken  Clock,     .....  23 

The  Flat  Yellow, 24 

The  Stone  Fly, 24 

The  Downlooker,  or  Oak  Fly,      ...  24 

The  Green  Drake,  or  Cadow,       ...  25 

The  Black  Drake,  or  Grey  Drake,        .         .  26 

The  Orange  Fly, 26 

The  Black  Ant,   ......  27 

The  Red  Ant, 27 

The  Pale-blue,  or  Willow  Fly,     ...  28 

The  Shamrock  Fly, 28 

HOOKS, 29 

ON  FLY- RODS, 30 

viii 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

ON   THE  WOODS   PROPER  FOR  FLY-RODS,            .  33 

HOW  TO   MAKE   RODS   AT  HOME,       ...  34 

DIMENSIONS  OF  A  FLY-ROD,  ETC.,  ...  35 

THE  ANTIQUITY  OF  FLY-FISHING,  ...  37 

A  DAY'S  ANGLING  IN  FRANCE,       ...  40 

APPENDIX  BY  A.  AND  A.  R.  SEVERN 

ADDITIONAL  NOTES  ON  ARTIFICIAL  FLIES— 

The  Blue  Dun, 47 

The  Alder, 47 

The  Pheasant  and  Green,     ....  48 

The  Hare's  Ear,  .         .         .         .         .         .  48 

The  Soldier  Palmer, 48 

Hofland's  Fancy, 48 

The  Red  Palmer, 49 

Mr.  Pritt's  Flies, 49 

FLY-RODS  AND  LANDING-NETS,        ...  50 

CHAR-FISHING, 51 


IX 


MEMOIR   OF   THE   AUTHOR 

THIS  little  book  has  long  been  a  favourite 
with  those  who  happen  to  own  copies,  some- 
what rare,  of  the  original  edition.  They  say 
there  is  nothing  like  it ;  and,  now  that  the 
prospects  of  anglers  in  the  Lake  District  are 
improving,  Practical  Fly-fishing  ought  to  be 
within  the  reach  of  every  amateur.  At  their 
instance  accordingly  it  is  reprinted ;  and  at  the 
desire  of  the  surviving  member  of  the  Author's 
family,  his  name,  still  honourably  recollected  by 
many,  is  exchanged  on  the  title-page  for  the 
modest  nom-de-plume  of  '  Arundo,'  a  reed  of  the 
river. 

John  Beever  was  born  nearly  a  hundred  years 
ago ;  the  elder  son  of  Mr.  William  Beever,  a 
Manchester  merchant.  In  the  earlier  years  of 
this  century  the  family  lived  in  an  old  mansion, 
since  inhabited  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Wilkinson,  the 
well-known  banker  and  art-patron,  at  the  Poly- 
gon, Ardwick,  then — hard  as  it  is  to  believe  it 

xi 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

— a  rural  suburb.  On  Mr.  Beever's  retirement 
from  business  they  removed  to  Birdsgrove,  near 
Ashbourne  by  the  Dove,  in  Derbyshire ;  and  in 
1827  they  settled  finally  at  the  Thwaite  House* 
Coniston,  which  has  ever  since  been  known, 
and  widely  known,  by  their  name. 

Four  years  later  Mr.  W.  Beever  died.  His 
wife  had  died  when  the  children  were  quite 
young.  A  second  son,  Henry,  was  settled  in 
Manchester,  practising  as  a  lawyer;  but  the 
rest  remained  for  many  years  together, — Miss 
Anne,  a  year  older  than  John,  and  her  sisters, 
Mary,  Margaret  and  Susanna.  They  lived  a 
simple  country  life,  spending  much  of  their 
strength  in  the  service  of  their  village  neigh- 
bours, secure  in  the  affection  of  a  close  circle  of 
friends,  and  contented  with  'the  harvest  of  a 
quiet  eye.7 

Several  of  the  sisters  became  authorities  on 
the  botany  of  the  district.  Baxter  in  his  British 
Flowering  Plant s,  speaking  of  a  rare  species  of 
Pearlwort,  says  :  '  The  specimen  of  this  curious 
and  interesting  little  plant,  from  which  the 
accompanying  drawing  was  made,  was  com- 
municated to  me  by  Miss  Susan  Beever.  To 
the  kindness  of  this  young  lady,  and  that  of 
her  sister,  Miss  Mary  Beever,  I  am  indebted 
for  the  four  plants  figured  in  this  number.' 

xii 


MEMOIR   OF   THE   AUTHOR 

And  in  the  latest  Flora  of  the  English  Lake 
District,  by  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker,  F.R.S.  (1885),  the 
name  of  *  Miss  Beever '  occurs  again  and  again. 
Under  their  care  the  garden  of  the  Thwaite  has 
become  famous  not  only  for  its  flowers, — for 
its  rarities  domesticated  among  old  cottage- 
favourites,  ideally  picturesque, — but  for  other 
and  more  widely  interesting  associations.  Ad- 
mirers of  Mr.  Ruskin  who  have  read  the  collec- 
tion of  his  letters  to  these  two  ladies,  published 
under  the  title  of  Hortus  Inclusus,  knew  some- 
thing of  their  love  for  bird  and  beast,  and 
sympathies  extended  to  human  creatures,  far 
beyond  the  limits  of  their  f  garden  enclosed.'1 

Mr.  John  Beever,  like  his  sisters,  was  a  close 
student  of  natural  history.  He  was  an  ardent 
sportsman  and  fisherman;  but  he  was  some- 
thing more,  —  a  diligent  and  affectionate 
observer,  reflective,  ingenious,  logical.  He  at- 
tributes his  first  lessons  in  this  school  to  a 
humble  but  very  efficient  teacher,  *  Frank,  the 
Matlock  chaise-driver/  who,  in  Derbyshire  days 
— it  must  have  been  about  1810 — showed  him 
then  a  lad  in  his  'teens,  the  grand  secret  of  an 
art  that  seemed  almost  like  magic. 

1  See  also  the  Rev.  W.  Tuckwell's  Tongties  in  Trees 
and  Sermons  in  Stones  (George  Allen),  for  illustrations 
of  the  Thwaite  and  its  garden. 

xiii 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

It  was  at  the  pool  below  Cromford  Bridge 
that  this  initiation  took  place,  which  made  young 
John  Beever  a  successful  angler,  and  enabled 
him  in  the  end  to  write  Practical  Fly-fishing. 
From  the  same  place,  still  as  lovely  as  in  those 
ancient  days,  even  though  its  repose  has  been 
broken  in  upon  by  the  main  line  of  the  Mid- 
land Railway,  the  Rector  of  Cromford,  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Arkwright,  kindly  sends  the  follow- 
ing extracts  from  private  letters,  giving  some 
gossip  about  this  same  Frank,  in  whom  any 
reader  of  his  pupil's  book  can  hardly  fail 
to  be  interested.  Mr.  James  Arkwright  of 
Cromford  writes  (Nov.  15,  1892):  'Old  Frank 
Ogden,  about  whom  you  inquire,  was  a  great 
friend  of  mine  from  fifty  to  sixty  years  since.  I 
learnt  a  good  deal  from  him  of  the  gentle  art 
or  *  contemplative  man's  amusement.'  I  got 
my  flies  from  him,  and  sat  watching  him  making 
them,  which  was  his  occupation  in  his  latter 
days.  At  one  time  Frank  was  my  father's 
huntsman,  when  he  kept  harriers,  which  was 
before  my  time,  though  I  can  just  remember 
the  kennels  in  front  of  the  Rock  House  Lodge. 
4 Old  Frank'  was  afterwards  coachman  to  my 
father,  and  I  think  at  one  time  was  a  post-boy, 
probably  before  he  lived  with  my  father.  A 
son  of  Frank  was  a  distinguished  fly-maker,  and 

xiv 


MEMOIR    OF    THE    AUTHOR 

had  a  fishing-tackle  shop  at  Cheltenham ;  and 
there  are  descendants  of  the  name  at  Matlock 
Bath  now.  Frank  was  a  little  man,  very  clever 
with  his  rod  and  line,  which  he  always  used 
short,  i.e.  he  never  attempted  to  throw  far,  say- 
ing the  sides  of  the  stream  were  the  most  likely ; 
though  I  think  he  enticed  the  fish  from  some 
distance  off.  For  some  time  he  was  confined 
to  the  house  at  the  top  of  the  hill  above  Guild- 
roy  at  Matlock  Bath,  having  injured  his  knee 
by  a  fall  on  slippery  stones  when  fishing.  He 
never  waded,  or  went  into  the  water.  His  flies 
were  very  small;  principally  duns,  no  bright 
colours.  I  do  not  remember  that  he  fished 
up  stream,  or  threw  a  dry  fly  as  is  now 
done.  I  remember  well  Frank's  long  thumb- 
nails, which  enabled  him  to  dress  his  flies  so 
neatly.' 

Mr.  Greenhough  of  Matlock  adds :  '  He 
was  great-grandfather  to  the  present  young 
Ogdens  at  the  shops,  who  now  have  instructions 
and  flies  made  by  him.  He  was  evidently  a 
local  character,  noted  for  his  fishing,  and  going 
about  dressed  up  in  a  superior  way.  He  pro- 
bably drove  carriages  at  one  time,  but  seems  to 
have  had  no  regular  occupation,  and  lived  an 
easy  life.  Both  Job  Walker  and  old  Mrs.  Rad- 
firth  remember  him,  and  repeated  to  me  the 

xv 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

lines  made  on  him  by  some  local  *  poet '  of  the 
day : — 

*  Franky  fine  with  his  rod  and  line, 
Never  shall  true-hearted  miners  join.' 

1  Fine  is  an  allusion  to  his  fine  clothes.  The 
explanation  of  the  last  line  is  a  trial  that  took 
place  about  the  ownership  of  some  lead  ore, 
and  Frank  gave  evidence  that  did  not  suit  the 
miners.' 

This  unpopularity,  no  doubt,  explains  why 
Mr.  Beever  went  out  of  his  way,  as  it  seems,  to 
defend  his  first  teacher :  *  Always  true  to  his 
colours,  and  one  of  Nature's  gentlemen.' 

Frank's  grand  secret  was  simply  the  principle 
to  '  Rule  by  obeying  Nature's  laws ' :  to  watch 
the  real  flies*  upon  which  the  fish  were  feeding, 
and  to  imitate  them,  without  regard  to  common 
usage  and  the  rules  of  theorists.  But  it  needed 
a  born  artist  to  do  that, — with  a  keen  eye,  a 
neat  hand,  and  a  good  share  of  brains.  Mr. 
Beever  was  an  apt  pupil,  and  carried  out  the 
principle  with  success  during  forty  years'  ex- 
perience, in  frequent  visits  to  Scotland,  to  Wales 
and  abroad,  as  well  as  in  constant  practice  over 
the  more  familiar  waters  of  the  Lakes  and 
Derbyshire.  Such  an  interest  in  fishing  led  to 
a  keen  interest  in  fish,  and  he  spared  no  pains 

xvi 


MEMOIR   OF    THE    AUTHOR 

to  make  himself  acquainted  with  their  growth 
and  habits. 

Behind  the  Thwaite  House  Mr.  Beever  made 
a  big  pond  by  damming  a  little  rivulet  which 
flows  down  from  the  Guards  Wood;  and  he 
stocked  his  pond  with  fish  of  various  kinds. 
Once  a  year  he  caught  each  member  of  his 
water-colony,  and  examined  it  to  see  how  it  was 
grown.  It  was  for  his  use  that  the  picturesque 
Gothic  boat-house,  which  every  visitor  knows  as 
the  station  of  the  steam-gondola,  was  built  by 
Mr.  Binns,  the  former  landlord  of  the  Thwaite, 
before  Mr.  James  Garth  Marshall  added  it  to 
his  property  at  Monk  Coniston. 

The  fishing-rod,  described  in  the  book,  was 
the  result  of  long  experiment  and  much  pains- 
taking. It  was  made  about  1837,  just  in  the 
way  our  author  recommends — by  a  f  clever 
joiner,  and  a  young  one,7 — Mr.  William  Bell, 
of  Hawes  Bank,  Coniston,  then  a  youth  of 
seventeen.  He  used  to  see  a  great  deal  of 
Mr.  Beever,  and  has  a  lively  recollection  of 
him  in  several  capacities — as  a  fisherman,  as  a 
very  good  shot,  in  those  earlier  days;  on  one 
occasion  bringing  down  twenty-two  snipe  at 
twenty-one  shots ;  and  an  ingenious  mechani- 
cian. The  pond  behind  the  house  served  not 
only  as  a  fish-tank  but  as  a  reservoir  for  a  water- 

xvii  c 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

wheel.  As  they  kept  no  horses,  only  a  donkey, 
the  coach-house  stood  empty,  and  was  used  as 
a  workshop;  the  water-wheel  was  built  below, 
and  drove  a  lathe  in  the  loft.  There  Mr.  Beever 
occupied  himself  when  he  was  kept  indoors,  as 
any  one  must  be  for  a  great  part  of  the  time  in 
rainy  Coniston  •  and  he  used  to  turn  all  sorts 
of  pretty  and  curious  articles,  to  carve — long 
before  the  days  when  wood-carving  came  into 
fashion — and  to  make  elaborate  inlaid  mosaic 
of  ingenious  design.  In  most  of  these  works 
he  employed  the  young  joiner  as  an  assistant ; 
got  him  also  to  make  the  printing-press,  still 
standing  there,  at  which  Mr.  Beever  used  to 
print  the  little  books  written  by  Miss  Susanna. 
But  the  chief  object  of  this  industry  was  to 
provide  the  texts  and  tickets  for  the  Sunday- 
school,  in  which  he  was  an  earnest  worker,  like 
his  sisters. 

He  was  very  fond  of  children,  and  beloved 
by  them.  Miss  M.  H.  Beever,  his  cousin,  says 
that  to  her  and  her  sister,  who  came  to  spend 
happy  holidays  at  the  Thwaite,  he  was  a  delight- 
ful companion,  and  the  most  wonderful  story- 
teller in  the  world.  In  his  Coniston  Nights' 
Entertainments  they  all  figured  under  fancy 
names,  and  the  stories  went  on  day  after  day, 
and  week  after  week,  as  inexhaustible  as  the 

xviii 


MEMOIR    OF   THE    AUTHOR 

sequels  of  Scheherazade.  He  was  a  man  of 
quaint  imagination  and  humour ;  indeed  all  the 
family  have  been  noted  for  originality  of  charac- 
ter ;  all  were  interestingly  peculiar,  and  each  in 
a  different  way. 

Such  was  the  author  of  this  little  book,  his 
only  literary  venture ;  hardly,  indeed,  a  literary 
work,  but  the  results  of  a  ripe  experience  noted 
down  without  affectation  or  ambition  of  style  or 
system.  It  appealed  of  course  only  to  the  few ; 
but  forty  years  more  have  amply  ratified  the 
teaching  he  founded  on  forty  years'  practice. 
Since  his  time  there  have  been  great  changes, 
both  in  the  opportunities  for  angling  and  the 
methods ;  and  yet  Time  is  bringing  about  its 
revenges.  The  lake  that  he  loved  became 
gradually  depopulated  of  fish — they  say,  owing 
to  turbid  or  poisonous  matter  washed  into  it  by 
the  stream  from  the  copper-mines.  Now  at 
last  the  copper-mines  have  almost  ceased  work- 
ing, and  the  waters  of  Coniston  Lake  have 
become  pure  again.  An  Angling  Association 
has  been  formed,  and  is  working  with  energy  to 
re-stock  the  lake  and  the  tarns  in  its  neighbour- 
hood with  trout,  and  the  famous  native  char, 
re-imported  from  Windermere,  or  bred  in  their 
pond  near  Coniston  Hall.  And  as  the  Fishery 
Conservators  are  taking  similar  steps  in  all  the 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

surrounding  districts,  it  is  hoped  that  angling 
will  again  become  what  it  was  in  old  days  in 
the  North  of  England. 

To  bring  Mr.  Beever's  work  up  to  date,  a  few 
notes  have  been  all  that  seemed  necessary,  and 
they  are  kept  together  in  the  Appendix,  in  order 
to  leave  the  original  paragraphs  untouched. 
The  contributors  of  the  notes,  Messrs.  Arthur 
Severn,  junior,  and  Agnew  Ruskin  Severn,  of 
Brantwood,  Coniston,  are,  as  all  their  neigh- 
bours know,  experts  with  the  rod,  and  fully 
acquainted  with  the  fishing  of  their  own  country. 
It  would  be  far  beyond  the  scope  of  this  work 
to  add  detailed  instructions  adapted  to  other 
centres,  or  to  discuss  the  value  of  Mr.  Beever's 
paragraphs,  in  various  matters  upon  which 
opinions  differ.  For  example,  many  readers 
may  feel  that  he  lays  too  much  stress  on  the 
advantages  of  making  your  own  rod ;  and  that 
modern  improvements  have  superseded  the 
clever  joiner  and  his  plane.  To  most  amateurs, 
certainly,  who  only  fish  a  little,  it  is  not  worth 
the  trouble.  But  the  other  day,  talking  over 
this  question  with  a  professional  authority, 
Mr.  Hully,  the  watcher  for  the  conservators  of 
the  district — he  had  come,  by  the  way,  with  a 
hundred  full-grown  char  to  add  to  the  stock  of 
our  lake — I  was  interested  to  find  him  a  staunch 

xx 


MEMOIR    OF  THE   AUTHOR 

believer  in  the  home-made  rod.  As  to  new 
flies  and  fancy  flies,  I  imagine  Mr.  Beever 
would  say  to  any  reader  of  his :  '  I  put  before 
you  my  principles,  and  give  you  my  experience. 
If  you  can  improve  upon  either,  do  so  by  all 
means  P 

He  outlived  the  date  of  his  preface  just  ten 
years  and  ten  days.  His  last  seven  years  were, 
unhappily,  clouded  by  illness,  and  the  result  of 
an  unsuccessful  operation  which  affected  the 
brain  •  so  that,  even  before  his  time,  our 
'Arundo'  was  cut  down,  and  his  friends  had 
indeed  to 

'  Sigh  for  the  cost  and  pain, — 
For  the  reed  which  grows  nevermore  again 
As  a  reed  with  the  reeds  in  the  river.' 

He  died  on  the  loth  of  January  1859,  aged 
sixty-four.  As  a  parishioner  of  Hawkshead,  he 
was  buried  at  the  picturesque  church,  which 
Wordsworth's  reminiscences  of  his  own  school- 
days have  made  famous.  The  tourist  who 
makes  a  hurried  ascent,  while  his  coach  stops 
at  the  Red  Lion,  to  this  place  of  modern 
pilgrimage,  will  find  the  family  tomb  of  the 
Beevers  hard  by  the  old  sundial,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  church,  where  all  the  greater  moun- 
tains are  full  in  view,  and  the  quaint  old  town 

xxi 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

seems  at  his  feet.  Many  tender  associations 
haunt  the  ground,  but  no  stone  in  the  church- 
yard bears  a  name  more  worthy  to  be  read 
with  affection  and  respect. 

Three  younger  sisters  survived  Mr.  Beever, 
Miss  Anne  having  died  in  1858,  and  Mr.  Henry 
in  1840.  Of  the  survivors,  Miss  Susanna  is 
now  left  alone  to  represent  a  family  connected 
for  so  many  years  with  Coniston — £at  once 
sources  and  loadstones  of  all  good  to  the 
village  in  which  they  had  their  home,  and  to 
all  loving  people  who  cared  for  the  village  and 
its  vale  and  secluded  lake,  and  whatever  re- 
mained in  them  or  around  of  the  former  peace, 
beauty,  and  pride  of  English  Shepherd  Land.'1 

W.  G.  C. 

CONISTON, 

New  Year  1893. 


1  Ruskin  :  Preface  to  Hortus  Inclusus. 


XXll 


PRACTICAL  FLY-FISHING 

FOUNDED   ON  NATURE 

AND    TESTED    BY    THE    EXPERIENCE 

OF  NEARLY  FORTY  YEARS  IN  VARIOUS 

PARTS  OF  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM 

WITH    INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR   IMITATING  ALL  THE   MOST 
USEFUL  FLIES:   ALSO 

REMARKS   ON   FLY-RODS 

THE  BEST  WOODS  FOR  THEM  AND 

THE  BEST  WAY  OF  MAKING 

THEM:  ETC.,  ETC. 


INTRODUCTION 

WRITERS  on  Trout-fishing,  who  are  ignorant 
of  the  Nature  and  Habits  of  aquatic  Insects, 
are  apt  to  give  instructions  for  the  making  of 
flies  which  are  so  utterly  unlike  anything  in 
Nature,  that  it  would  puzzle  any  one  to  discover 
what  they  were  intended  to  represent. 

The  Author  of  the  following  pages  has 
endeavoured  to  describe,  as  distinctly  and 
accurately  as  he  possibly  could,  such  flies  as 
are  found  to  be  generally  useful  in  angling  for 
Trout  and  Grayling.  His  aim  has  been  to 
seize  their  colour,  size,  and  character.  The 
following  anecdote  will  show  the  importance  of 
a  close  imitation  of  the  natural  fly. 

Long  ago,  a  few  young  Professors  had  fished 
down  the  lowest  part  of  the  Derbyshire  Wye, 
to  its  junction  with  the  Derwent;  and  also  a 
short  portion  of  the  latter  river.  They  had 
been  unsuccessful,  for  the  water  was  low,  and 
fine,  and  their  skill  was  not  very  great.  How- 
ever, they  had  succeeded  in  persuading  each 
other  that  fish  were  not  to  be  caught  that  day 
by  any  one;  they  were  lounging  upon  the 
bridge  at  Rowsley,  when  one  of  them  ex- 
claimed, '  Now  we  shall  have  some  fun^  here 
i  A 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

comes  a  fisher !  we  '11  send  him  to  those  fish 
that  are  rising  in  the  pool  below,  that  we  have 
been  throwing  at  so  long.'  The  man  looked 
like  a  mechanic,  or  weaver;  he  was  plainly 
dressed,  and  seemed  very  poor;  but  his 
countenance  was  cheerful  and  intelligent.  His 
rod  was  of  hazel, — a  top  and  a  butt, — tied 
together  with  a  waxed  end ;  his  line  of  about 
five  yards  long,  with  four  more  of  single  hair, 
was  tied  to  a  loop  at  the  end  of  his  rod,  and 
was  there  so  thick  as  to  seem  almost  a  con- 
tinuation of  it  (being  well  adapted  for  the  wood- 
encumbered  Derwent).  He  had  neither  reel, 
nor  rings,  nor  varnish.  {  Master,'  said  one  of 
the  Gentlemen,  'you  may  have  some  rare 
sport ;  here  are  half  a  dozen  good  Trout  and 
Grayling  rising  in  this  pool.'  The  man  seemed 
glad  to  hear  this,  for  he  had  been  angling  some 
time ;  had  ascertained  what  insects  the  fish 
were  feeding  upon,  and  having  made  himself  a 
set  of  flies  upon  the  river's  bank,  had  about 
half  filled  a  small  woodland  pannier,  which 
hung  at  his  shoulder.  He  went  down  to  the 
rough  stream  at  the  foot  of  the  pool,  and  un- 
winding the  line  from  his  left  hand,  made  a 
few  throws  to  soak  and  straighten  it.  He  then 
proceeded  to  the  fish,  as  the  Gentlemen  pointed 
them  out  to  him,  and  after  being  successful  in 
taking  them  all,  he  looked  up  rather  archly, 
and  said,  f  Gentlemen,  can  you  show  me  any 
more  ? ' 

CONISTON  LAKE,  January  i,  1849. 


ARTIFICIAL  FLIES 

PERHAPS  many  of  the  flies  mentioned  in  this 
book  may  be  different  from  those  which  the 
reader  has  been  accustomed  to  fish  with,  or 
made  in  a  different  way.  But  let  it  be  remem- 
bered, that  of  all  insects  there  are  two  kinds, 
male  and  female,  often  very  different  both  in 
size  and  colour,  and  perhaps  in  some  cases  I 
may  have  described  the  one,  and  in  some  the 
other;  however,  they  are  all  painted  from 
nature,  and  I  hope  faithfully. 

If  you  have  a  choice,  it  is  always  best  to  imi- 
tate the  female  fly,  as  she  is  larger,  and,  with 
her  eggs,  makes  a  more  tempting  morsel.  In 
many  kinds,  the  male,  having  performed  his 
office,  leaves  the  water  and  wanders  away  • 
sometimes  I  have  even  seen  him  in  the  midst 
of  large  towns ;  but  the  female  always  returns 
to  the  water  to  deposit  her  eggs  and  to  die. 
I  am  speaking  now  of  aquatic  flies,  which  form 
a  large  proportion  of  those  imitated  by  the 
angler. 

The  great  majority  of  fishers  have  no  con- 
fidence in  their  own  flies,  when  off  their  usual 
beat.  Perhaps  they  travel  four  or  five  hundred 
miles  to  a  river,  and  see  upon  the  water  half  a 
3 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

dozen  kinds  of  flies,  the  very  counterparts  of 
those  seen  near  home  at  the  same  time  of  year. 
Instead  of  beginning  to  fish  with  confidence, 
how  do  they  act  ?  They  send  for  some  tailor, 
cobbler,  or  superannuated  keeper,  who  tells 
them  that  they  have  not  in  their  whole  stock  a 
fly  worth  a  bawbee. 

What  are  they  to  do? — He  can  sell  them 
some  which  will  kill.  The  fisher  generally 
falls  into  this  trap. 

A  gentleman  who  was  at  Selkirk  in  the 
spring  of  1823,  inquired  for  a  guide  to  St. 
Mary's  Loch.  He  was  referred  to  John 
Redhead,  a  Northumbrian,  who  lived  in  the 
town,  made  rods,  lines,  and  flies  ;  fished, — sold 
his  fish,  and  found  it  hard  work,  by  his  own 
account,  to  scrape  up  a  living  amongst  the 
Scotch. 

They  fished  their  way  up  the  beautiful 
streams  of  the  pastoral  Yarrow,  and  were 
hospitably  entertained  for  the  night  at  '  Mount 
Benger,'  the  house  of  Mr.  Scott  <  the  Elder.' 
After  breakfast  the  next  morning  they  went  to 
St.  Mary's  Loch.  They  angled  for  three  or 
four  hours  in  vain,  having  each  taken  only  one 
small  fish.  They  repaired  to  the  deserted 
burial-ground  of  the  Covenanters,  on  the  hill, 
to  make  a  fisherman's  meal;  which,  though 
homely,  is  generally  accompanied  by  an 
excellent  appetite.  A  good  stone  bridge  was 
seen  in  the  distance.  The  following  discourse 
ensued — 

Gentleman.  What  bridge  is  that  ? 
4 


PRACTICAL    FLY   FISHING 

Redhead.  Over  the  Meggat. 

Gent.  What  is  the  Meggat  ? 

Redh.  The  main  feeder  of  the  Loch. 

Gent.  Let  us  go  there. 

It  was  a  fine  afternoon  in  the  month  of 
June;  the  water  was  full,  the  fish  were  rising 
at  the  Middle-dun ;  the  creels  were  nearly  filled, 
when  the  Middle-dun  ceased  to  come  down  the 
water,  and  not  a  fish  could  be  stirred. 

Gentleman^  sitting  down  upon  a  large  stone, 
— I  shall  try  a  £  Grouse.' 

Redh.  You  need  not,  Sir. 

Gent.  Why  not  ?     It  's  the  best  fly  now. 

Redh.  It's  no  use,  Sir. 

Gent.  I  ;11  try  one,  however. 

Redh.  I've  often  seen  English  Gentlemen 
try  them,  and  catch  nothing. 

Gent.  Here  they  are,  ready  dressed,  and  I 
mean  to  give  one  a  chance ;  we  cannot  well  be 
worse  than  we  are. 

Redh.  It  may  do  in  England,  but  I  tell  you 
it 's  no  use  here ;  you  might  as  well  throw  your 
hat  into  the  water. 

Gent.  May  I  not  please  myself? 

No  answer. 

The  Gentleman  stepped  on  the  gravel-bed, 
— threw  his  line, — drew  out  a  nice  fish,  and 
taking  it  off  the  hook,  said  very  quietly, — 
'  Grouse ! ' 

He  took  another, — '  Grouse  ! 7 

He  took  fourteen  more ;  making  sixteen  fish 
in  succession,  all  with  the  '  Grouse,'  although  he 
had  other  flies  on  his  line ;  and  as  each  fish 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

was  unhooked,  he  pronounced  the  monosyllable 
'Grouse!'       Redhead    now    approached,    his 
hand  at  his  bonnet,  and  said,  'Sir,  will  you 
please  to  give  me  one  of  those fliest ' 
The  Gentleman  gave  him  two. 


HINTS  ON  FLY-FISHING 

1  FISH  fine  and  far  off,'  say  the  books ;  fine 
as  you  please,  but  never  far  off,  when  you  can 
help  it.  Not  that  you  are  to  place  yourself 
immediately  above  the  fish,  with  a  short  line, 
but  get  below  them,  or,  at  any  rate,  abreast  of 
them.  Nineteen  out  of  every  twenty  fish, 
taken  by  the  fly,  are  killed  with  a  line  under 
ten  yards  long  from  the  top  of  the  rod.  Whilst 
the  fisher  is  straining  nerves  and  tackle,  and 
cracking  off  his  flies,  to  reach  a  fish  in  a  broad 
part  of  a  river,  let  him  remember  that  other  fish 
are  rising  at  the  same  time  in  narrower  places, 
which  he  can  cover  with  ease.  It  is  of  no  use 
throwing  more  line  than  he  can  swim  when  it 
is  thrown ;  and  this  swimming  of  the  artificial- 
fly  is  beyond  my  power  to  explain,  as  it  par- 
takes of  the  nature  of  Genius.  Some  acquire 
it,  in  a  degree,  very  early,  whilst  others  would 
plod  for  a  hundred  years,  without  ever  dream- 
ing that  such  a  thing  was  requisite.  Give  a 
fiddler,  who  knows  how  to  play,  Paganini's  violin 
and  bow — will  that  make  him  a  Paganini  ? 

A  fact  or  two  will  better  illustrate  my  mean- 
ing. Two  Gentlemen  went  out  together,  in 
Derbyshire,  for  a  few  hours'  fishing ;  they  used 
7 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

the  same  flies ;  both  were  attentive  and  diligent. 
After  the  lapse  of  a  few  hours  one  of  them  had 
eighteen  pounds,  the  other  not  more  than  four. 

Two  anglers  got  permission  for  a  day's  fish- 
ing, and  the  use  of  a  boat,  on  a  lake  in  Wales. 
One  of  them  made  a  few  flies  for  their  joint 
use.  The  one,  at  the  end  of  the  day's  sport, 
had  forty-eight  Trout,  weighing  twenty-four 
pounds  ;  the  other  had  not  three  pounds. 

Let  no  learner  despair,  or  think  to  himself,  / 
shall  never  be  a  fly-fisher ;  /  shall  never  return 
home  with  a  basket  full  of  fish.  Depend  upon 
it,  you  will.  Industry,  neatness,  and  persever- 
ance, will  do  anything.  I  had  just  your  ideas 
when  a  youth.  I  was  standing  on  the  margin 
of  that  broad  and  beautiful  pool,  below  the 
bridge  at  Cromford ;  the  flies  were  on  the  water ; 
the  fish  were  rising ;  but  I  could  take  nothing. 

A  brisk  and  cheerful  little  man  jumped  over 
the  wall,  and  came  to  me  in  his  shirt  sleeves, 
with  a  fly-rod  in  his  hand.  It  was  Frank^  the 
chaise-driver  of  Matlock,  one  of  the  nicest  and 
best  fishers  in  England — always  true  to  his 
colours.  And  what  was  far  better,  one  of 
Nature's  gentlemen.  I  showed  him  the  fish  I 
had  been  throwing  at,  and  he  took  them.  Then 
he  showed  me  his  flies,  and  kindly  told  me  what 
they  were,  and  pointed  out  their  resemblance  to 
those  which  I  had  seen  upon  the  water. 

I  followed  him  for  some  time,  to  watch  him 
fish,  and  to  ask  from  him  such  information  as 
occurrences  suggested,  which  he  kindly  gave 
me ;  and  I  have  never  desponded  since. 


A  LIST  OF 

THE  MOST  USEFUL  NATURAL  FLIES 
WITH  THEIR  IMITATIONS 

THE  SPRING  BLACK 

THIS  is  the  first  Black  of  the  season,  on 
most  running  waters  •  appears  about  the  latter 
end  of  March,  and  is  good  until  about  the 
middle  of  May,  when  the  Black  Caterpillars 
and  Black  Gnat  take  its  place. 

The  hook  is  No.  i  \  the  wing  from  the  quill 
of  the  Swift ;  body,  silk,  the  colour  of  Lundy 
Foote's  snuff,  with  a  bit  of  fine  black  Ostrich's 
herl  laid  on  like  a  screw,  to  show  the  silk 
underneath ;  and  a  small  hen's  hackle,1  of  a 
sooty  black,  for  legs. 

About  four-and-twenty  years  ago,  a  friend 
and  myself  were  fishing,  in  the  middle  of  April, 
in  the  Slate-Quarry  Dub,  on  Tweed,  a  little 
below  Elibank  Wood.  We  had  come,  in  a 
chaise,  from  Selkirk  (eight  or  nine  miles)  that 

1  Cock's  Hackles. — The  hackles  of  game  fowls  are 
preferable  to  those  of  any  other  breed,  being  narrow  and 
well  tapered.  The  hackles  of  well  bred  bantams  are 
also  very  good  for  small  flies. 

9  B 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

morning.  For  about  an  hour  all  was  still, 
until  a  shoal  of  Spring  Blacks  came  upon  the 
water.  Every  fish  seemed  in  pursuit  of  them. 
I  had  three  of  them  dressed  in  my  book,  and 
immediately  put  two  of  them  on  my  line,  one 
at  the  point,  and  one  next  me.  The  colour 
was  so  true,  and  so  many  fish  were  feeding 
within  reach,  that  I  had  only  to  select  the  best 
fish.  This  feed  only  lasted  forty  minutes  ;  and, 
in  that  time,  I  got  six  pounds  and  a  half,  taking 
two  at  once  six  times.  Unfortunately,  my 
friend,  who  had  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
had  no  Spring  Blacks,  and  could  not  touch  a 
fish.  I  tied  up  my  remaining  fly  in  a  piece  of 
paper,  with  a  pebble  for  ballast,  and  threw  it 
across  to  him.  At  the  first  throw  he  hooked  a 
Trout,  which  took  his  fly  from  him,  as  he  had 
neglected  to  tie  the  knot  securely.  During  the 
whole  of  the  feed,  though  a  skilful  and  indus- 
trious fisher,  he  only  got  two  fish ;  for  so  very 
particular  were  the  fish  that  day,  as  they  some- 
times are,  but  they  would  have  nothing  but 
the  Spring  Black.  This  fly  may  often  be  seen 
in  great  numbers  in  the  cold  afternoons  of 
spring,  upon  fresh  horse-dung. 

THE  MARCH  BROWN. 

Dun  Drake,  Brown  Drake,  Turkey  Fly.  This 
is  a  fine  handsome  insect,  and  is  out  during 
the  whole  of  April,  and  part  of  May.  On  sunny 
mornings  it  springs  early,  and  is  often  very 
numerous.  It  is  the  first  of  the  large  flies 
10 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

which  attract  the  notice  of  good  fish.  A  party 
of  gentlemen,  who  made  Selkirk  their  head- 
quarters for  about  a  month,  many  years  ago,  took 
a  great  quantity  of  fish  with  this  fly  in  Tweed, 
Ettrick,  Yarrow,  St.  Mary's,  and  Meggat.  They 
made  it  in  many  ways;  the  following  was 
esteemed  the  best.  Hook  2  or  3 ;  wing  from 
the  tail  of  a  hen  Pheasant,  or  the  quill  of  a 
Partridge ;  hackle  dappled,  or  cuckoo-coloured 
(prevailing  colours,  light-blue  dun  and  tawny 
yellow).  Silk,  generally  primrose,  but  some- 
times chocolate. 

On  the  Dove,  it  is  called  the  Turkey-fly,  and 
winged  from  the  quill  of  a  Turkey-hen,  or 
Turkey-poult,  and  hackled  with  a  light,  meally 
dun  cock's  or  hen's  hackle. 

THE  LESSER  MARCH  BROWN. 

This  fly  is  not  much  more  than  half  the  size 
of  the  last.  It  is  generally  made  as  a  hackle, 
with  a  feather  taken  from  the  back  of  the  cock 
Partridge,  in  November  or  December,  which  is 
then  beautifully  and  regularly  speckled.  Hook 
i  or  2 ;  silk  mahogany  colour ;  and  a  little 
coarse  claret-coloured  dubbing,  of  mohair. 

THE  GRANAM  OR  GREEN-TAIL 

is  an  early  fly,  generally  seen  the  first  warm 
days  of  April,  and  is  very  fond  of  sunshine. 
Sometimes  it  is  so  numerous  that  the  water 
appears  as  if  a  quantity  of  chaff  had  been 
ii 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

thrown  out  by  a  miller.  Old  anglers  are  not 
generally  much  pleased  to  see  it ;  for  the 
number  and  liveliness  of  the  natural  flies  render 
their  chance  small,  and  also  enable  the  fish  so 
to  glut  themselves,  as  to  require  little  more 
insect  food  that  day.  It  is  like  many  other 
insects,  very  variable  in  its  appearance.  In 
some  years  scarcely  any  are  seen.  It  is  a  flat 
fly  with  four  wings,  and  flutters  very  much  upon 
the  water,  perhaps,  from  an  instinct  of  the 
female  to  deposit  her  eggs,  which  hang  in  a 
large  green  bunch  at  the  end  of  her  body ;  and 
from  which,  doubtless  the  name  of  the  fly 
originated.  Hook  No.  2  ;  wing  or  hackle  from 
a  feather  which  grows  on  the  bone  underneath 
the  Woodcock's  wing,  and  is  of  a  lead  colour, 
barred  with  white ;  silk,  of  a  grass  or  ivy-green 
colour.  About  half  the  body  should  be  made 
with  fur  from  a  hare's  face,  leaving  the  re- 
mainder of  it  bare  to  show  the  green  silk. 

THE  SPRING  DUN, 

The  Middle  Dun,  the  Dun  Cut,  the  Yellow 
Dun,  the  Dotterel  Dun,  the  Honey  Dun,  the 
Brown  Dun.  These  names,  and  many  more, 
are,  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  applied  to 
an  ephemera,  which  appears  in  most,  if  not  all, 
of  the  Trout  waters  of  these  kingdoms,  through- 
out the  whole  season,  although  in  greater  num- 
bers during  spring  and  autumn  than  at  other 
times.  It  is  also  rather  larger  at  those  periods 
than  in  the  summer  months. 
12 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

Like  other  ephemerae,  it  is  an  afternoon  or 
evening  fly.  Various  as  are  the  names  by 
which  it  is  known  amongst  anglers,  the  ways  of 
imitating  it  are  far  more  so.  It  is  winged  or 
hackled,  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  in 
many  different  ways.  In  Scotland,  the  under- 
wing  of  the  Moorpoult,  the  wing  of  the  Sparrow, 
the  Skylark,  and  the  Bunting,  are  used  :  for  the 
North  of  England,  the  Snipe,  the  Dotterel,  and 
the  Golden  Plover  are  preferred :  in  the  Peak 
of  Derbyshire,  cock's  and  hen's  hackles  are 
much  employed  :  in  the  South  of  England  they 
use  the  wing  of  the  Starling ;  a  feather  from  the 
bastard-wing  of  the  wild  Mallard  is  sometimes 
made  use  of.  Having  tried  these  and  several 
others,  without  the  success  which  an  imitation 
of  such  a  well-known  fly  ought  to  command, 
my  next  attempt  was  with  the  wing  of  the  young 
Starling,  before  it  attains  the  adult  plumage. 
It  is  a  beautifully  blended  tint  of  blue,  brown, 
and  yellow. 

I  tried  it  in  conjunction  with  a  hen's  hackle 
of  the  same  colour  (not  easily  met  with),  and 
a  mixed  body  of  a  primrose  and  dandelion- 
coloured  silk,  and  have  never  made  it  any  other 
way  since.  So  very  often  has  excellent  sport 
been  had  with  this  fly,  in  England,  Scotland, 
Ireland,  and  Wales,  that  it  is  needless  to  men- 
tion any  particular  locality.  It  will  always  be 
in  fashion  whilst  the  world  lasts  and  streams 
run.  The  hook  for  this  fly  is  i,  2,  or  3,  accord- 
ing to  the  water. 

13 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

THE  RUDDY  FLY, 

The  Mario  Buzz,  the  Furnace,  Coch  a  Bondu. 
The  Ruddy  is  a  beetle,  chiefly  a  fly  for  spring 
and  summer ;  and  most  useful  as  an  afternoon 
or  evening  fly.  The  upper  wings  are  of  a  colour 
redder  than  cinnamon,  and  much  brighter,  and 
the  under  wings  are  black.  Under  different 
names  it  is  a  great  favourite  on  most  Trout 
streams.  Hook  2 ;  silk,  bright  red,  between 
scarlet  and  crimson ;  hackle  from  a  ruddy  cock ; 
the  body,  black  ostrich's  herl,  rather  full. 

I  once  (early  in  May)  saw  a  person  hook 
three  very  nice  Trout  at  once ;  (he  was  fishing 
three  Ruddys) ;  he  landed  two  of  them,  and 
lost  the  third. 

THE  COWDUNG  FLY. 

A  good  fly,  particularly  for  cold,  windy  days. 
Hook  2 ;  wing,  a  yellowish  brown  feather  from 
the  bastard-wing  of  the  female  Woodcock ;  silk, 
orange ;  dubbing,  a  mixture  of  orange  and  red 
mohair,  with  a  few  hairs  from  a  hare's  face. 

THE  DARK-BLUE  DUN,  OR  MERLIN. 

This  fly  is  excellent  on  dark,  cold,  and 
stormy  days,  throughout  the  season.  It  is 
one  of  the  ephemerae,,  or  upright  wing  flies,  and 
is  generally  made  with  a  dark  blue  cock's  or 
hen's  hackle,  and  lead-coloured  silk.  The  fol- 
lowing way  of  making  it  is  original,  and  has  been 
very  successful  during  a  long  trial.  Hook  2 ; 
14 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

wing  from  the  dark-blue  part  of  the  quill  of 
the  male  Merlin  Hawk ;  hackle  from  the  grey 
part  of  a  Jackdaw's  neck ;  silk,  dark  lead,  with 
a  little  Mole's  fur  for  dubbing,  very  sparingly 
introduced. 

One  day,  long  ago,  in  the  middle  of  June, 
being  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ashburn,  I  took 
my  rod,  and  walked  (about  four  miles)  to  Dove- 
dale.  The  day  was  dark  and  foggy,  with  a 
gentle  rain,  which  was  just  sufficient  to  give  the 
river  a  faint  milky  tinge  without  muddying  it. 

This  was  one  of  the  best  days  I  ever  saw  for 
fish  feeding  upon  the  fly,  as  they  were  rising 
greedily  when  I  arrived  at  the  water,  about 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  I  left  them 
feeding  at  three  in  the  afternoon.  This  was  a 
great  day  for  the  Merlin.  After  angling  for 
about  an  hour,  I  saw  the  gamekeeper  approach- 
ing :  he  asked  about  the  fish,  and  I  told  him 
that  they  were  doing  pretty  well,  and  whilst  we 
were  talking,  I  noticed  several  very  nice  Trout 
and  Grayling  feeding  not  far  from  where  we 
stood.  At  last,  the  keeper  wished  me  good 
sport,  and  left  me.  I  soon  took  most  of  the 
fish  that  I  had  marked  whilst  conversing  with 
him,  and  then  my  basket  was  full.  Fortunately, 
I  had  a  large  hare-pocket  in  my  jacket,  and  I 
loaded  one  end  of  it,  until  it  became  very  un- 
comfortable, when  I  began  to  fill  the  other  end, 
and  soon  brought  matters  to  a  balance.  I 
believe  I  had  eight-and-thirty  fine  fish,  and 
nearly  all  of  them  were  taken  with  the  Merlin. 

I  once  met  with  an  old  Friend  who  was  going 
15 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

off  to  a  distance  to  fish  fly.  I  gave  him  two 
small  feathers  of  the  Merlin  Hawk,  which  I 
happened  to  have  in  my  pocket-book.  When 
I  next  saw  him,  some  time  afterwards,  he  told 
me  that  he  had  made  two  flies  with  the  feathers 
which  I  gave  him ;  and  that  he  had  caught 
fifty-six  Trouts  with  them,  having  carefully  re- 
made and  repaired  them  several  times,  until 
they  were  quite  worn  out. 

THE  BLACK  CATERPILLARS. 

There  are  two  flies  of  this  name,  the  little  one 
and  the  large  one.  The  latter  is  too  large  for 
stream  fishing,  except  in  very  rough  weather. 
The  little  Black  Caterpillar  appears  about  the 
tenth  of  May,  and  when  out,  may  always  be 
found  on  the  hawthorn.  It  may  easily  be 
known  by  some  of  its  legs  hanging  down  when 
flying,  in  a  peculiar  way,  as  if  one  or  two  of 
them  were  broken.  Hook  i  ;  wing  from  a 
Starling's  quill;  silk,  dark  lead  colour;  a  turn 
or  two  of  black  Ostrich's  herl  under  the  wings. 
The  large  Black  Caterpillar  is  made  in  a  similar 
way,  on  a  3  or  4  hook,  and  is  an  excellent  fly 
for  Lake  or  Tarn  fishing. 

A  few  years  ago,  a  large  flight  of  insects  came 
out  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Coniston,  of  a  kind 
which  I  have  never  noticed  before  or  since. 
They  were,  in  every  respect  but  one,  quite 
similar  in  size  and  appearance  to  the  Black 
Caterpillar.  The  whole  of  their  legs  and  thighs 
were  a  deep  rich  claret  colour,  whilst  in  the 
16 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

caterpillar  they  resemble  black  sealing-wax.  In 
the  time  of  their  appearance  also  there  was  a 
difference,  as  this  flight  came  in  September.  It 
was  dimcult  to  walk  in  the  lanes  without  tread- 
ing upon  some  of  them  :  they  were  all  over  the 
lake,  and  upon  the  hedges,  fields,  and  fells ;  in 
fact,  they  appeared  to  be  everywhere,  and  re- 
mained about  a  fortnight. 


THE  BLACK-HEADED  RED. 

This  is  a  beetle  or  Lady-bird,  made  as  a 
hackle,  in  two  ways.  First,  with  a  cock's 
hackle,  of  which  about  one  half  is  red  and  the 
other  black ;  second,  with  a  deep  red  hackle, 
having  a  black  stripe  up  the  middle  of  it, 
Hook  i  or  2  ;  silk,  dark  orange,  or  red.  This 
fly  is  good  all  the  season,  especially  when  the 
water  is  resuming  its  natural  size  and  colour 
after  a  flood. 

THE  LITTLE  CHAP. 

A  small  beetle,  good  from  April  to  October, 
on  sunny  days,  and  an  especial  favourite  with 
the  Grayling.  Hook  o  or  i.  It  is  hackled 
with  a  Peewit's  topping,  or  a  very  small  sooty- 
black  hackle  of  cock  or  hen.  The  body  is 
short,  of  Peacock's  herl ;  silk,  dark  lead  or  very 
dark  brown.  In  July,  orange  silk  is  very  good, 
made  to  show  a  turn  or  two  of  silk  below  the 
Peacock.  A  very  dark-blue  dun  hackle  may 
sometimes  be  substituted  with  advantage. 
17  c 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

THE  BLACK  GNAT. 

The  Black  Gnat  is  generally  first  seen  early 
in  May,  and  sometimes  congregates  in  flocks 
of  hundreds  if  not  of  thousands.  If  nicely 
made,  and  finely  fished,  a  well-filled  basket  is 
often  the  result.  I  have  found  it  to  answer 
best  as  a  hackle.  Hook  o  or  oo;  feather 
from  the  bastard-wing  of  the  Swift,  or  small 
hackle  from  a  very  dark  brown  (nearly  black) 
hen's  neck  :  silk,  the  colour  of  Irish  snuff ;  a 
very  fine  piece  of  black  Ostrich's  herl  put  on 
open  like  a  screw  to  show  the  silk. 

THE  ORANGE  DUN. 

The  Orange  Dun  may  be  looked  for  about 
the  middle  of  May,  and  lasts  to  the  end  of 
October.  There  are  several  distinct  ephemerae 
known  by  this  general  name,  of  which  the  three 
following  will  be  found  the  most  useful  to  the 
angler,  ist.  The  Dark  Orange  Dun  ;  hook,  o, 
i,  2  ;  wing  from  the  Merlin  Hawk's  wing ; 
silk,  deep  orange ;  hackle  from  a  dark-blue 
cock  or  hen's  hackle ;  no  dubbing.  2nd. 
Orange  Dun ;  hook  o,  i,  2  ;  wing  from  the 
Starling's  quill ;  hackle  from  dun  cock  or  hen  ; 
silk,  orange.  3rd.  Light  Orange  Dun ;  hook 
o,  i,  2  ;  wing  from  a  light-coloured  Sea-gull  or 
Sea-swallow ;  hackle,  very  light-blue  dun ;  silk, 
tawny  or  faded  orange.  All  these  flies  may  be 
made  as  hackles,  by  feathers  of  their  various 
shades,  which  are  often  to  be  found  on  the 
18 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

backs    of   half-grown    chickens.       Pigeon    or 
Cuckoo  feathers  do  not  wet  well. 

The  Dun  flies,  especially  the  Orange,  and  the 
Blue,  and  middle  Duns,  are  great  favourites  on 
limestone  waters,  particularly  the  clear  streams 
of  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire,  where  coarse  tackle 
and  slovenly  imitations  will  not  do. 

THE  GROUSE. 

This  is  a  beetle,  and  is  excellent  from  the 
middle  of  May  to  the  middle  of  July  in  all 
waters.  Hook  i,  2,  3 ;  hackle,  a  dark  mottled 
feather  from  the  back  of  the  cock  moorgame ; 
silk,  orange  \  body,  Peacock's  herl  of  a  copper 
colour.1 

THE  IRON  BLUE. 

This  is  one  of  the  ephemerae,  appears  in  May 
and  June  on  cold  days,  and  generally  in  great 
numbers.  It  is  a  very  small  fly,  and  is  usually 
made  with  wings  from  the  Tomtit's  tail  or 
Jackdaw's  ruff.  The  Merlin's  wing  makes  it 
best.  Hook  o ;  silk,  dark  lead  colour ;  body, 
a  little  Mole's  fur.  It  is  called  the  Iron  Blue, 
I  believe,  from  the  resemblance  of  the  colour 
of  its  wings  to  that  of  tempered  steel. 

THE  GREEN  WOODCOCK. 

A  decided  evening  fly,  and  best  from  the 
middle  of  May  to  the  middle  of  July.  It 

1  [Note  by  A.  and  A.  R.  Severn. — A  green  or  yellow 
body  takes  very  well  from  the  middle  of  May  until  the 
end  of  June.] 

19 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

should  never  be  seen  upon  the  line  until  after 
six  o'clock.  In  the  almost  endless  days  of 
summer,  it  will  kill  after  bright  hot  days,  longer 
than  a  person  can  see  his  flies. 

Once,  at  Midsummer,  when  on  a  visit  at 
Birdsgrove,  near  Ashburn,  on  the  Dove,  I 
determined  to  try  for  an  extra  large  Trout,  with 
this  fly,  in  the  evening;  as  I  had  heard  of 
several  very  fine  fish  having  been  taken  by 
some  country  night  fishers.  I  made  a  Green 
Woodcock  on  one  of  the  largest  Salmon  hooks 
I  had,  perhaps  a  15  or  16  Kendal  hook.  Not 
having  any  gut  which  I  thought  strong  enough 
for  my  purpose,  I  selected  sixteen  good  strong 
horse-hairs,  to  which  I  dressed  my  fly,  making 
it  very  rough.  That  I  might  not  be  diverted 
from  my  purpose,  I  took  out  with  me  only  this 
one  fly. 

The  place  I  had  selected,  as  most  likely  for 
my  operations,  was  an  extremely  rough  narrow 
stream,  about  half  a  mile  above  Hanging 
Bridge ;  with  an  open  stone  wall,  and  excellent 
holds  on  the  Derbyshire  side  of  it,  and  not  a 
likely  place  for  a  net  to  be  put  into  by  any  one 
who  ever  expected  to  see  it  come  out  again 
whole.  I  arrived  there  at  dusk,  and,  beginning 
at  the  top  of  the  stream,  fished  it  step  by  step  ; 
when  I  came  to  the  middle  of  the  stream, 
where  it  was  still  very  rough,  there  was  a  splash 
at  the  fly,  as  if  some  one  had  thrown  into  the 
water  a  large  paving-stone,  and  my  line  flew 
over  my  head.  On  looking  at  it,  the  sixteen 
hairs  were  staring  in  all  directions,  but  the  fly 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

was  gone.  I  have  seen  many  a  large  Salmon 
rise,  but  never  any  with  such  a  plunge  as  that ; 
and  there -was  no  struggle,  but  a  clear  cut.  I 
can  only  conclude  that  an  Otter  had  mistaken 
my  large  fly,  in  the  rough  stream,  and  in  the 
twilight,  for  a  small  fish. 

Hook  for  the  Green  Woodcock  i,  2,  3  ; 
hackle,  light-coloured  feather  of  mixed  brown, 
dun,  and  dirty  yellow,  from  a  Woodcock's 
wing  •  silk,  ivy  or  apple-green ;  body,  hare's 
ear  (dark  part). 

THE   SILK    FLY. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  delicate  and  beautiful 
insects  that  we  have.  It  is  one  of  the  ephemerae. 
The  angler  may  not  perhaps  meet  with  it  half  a 
dozen  times  in  the  course  of  his  life,  and  if  he 
is  not  prepared  with  a  few  ready-made  ones,  or 
materials  for  making  them,  he  need  not  expect 
any  sport  so  long  as  any  of  the  natural  flies  re- 
main. It  is  a  very  rich  bright  yellow  (brighter  on 
limestone  than  on  gravelly  or  sandstone  streams), 
the  colour  that  of  the  dandelion  flower,  body 
and  wings,  and  is  generally  made  with  a  dyed 
feather.  There  is  a  North  American  Starling 
with  a  brilliant  yellow  breast,  which  imitates  it 
very  well,  and  few  dyed  feathers  are  to  be 
trusted,  as  if  stained  with  vegetable  matter,  they 
are  apt  to  fade ;  if  with  mineral  acids,  they  are 
sure  to  be  tender.  Hook  2  ;  hackle  bright  yel- 
low ;  body,  floss  silk  of  the  same  colour. 


21 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

THE    SAND    GNAT    OR    GRAVEL    FLY. 

A  man  may  have  with  him  ten  thousand  good 
flies,  ready  dressed,  on  a  good  fishing  day  too, 
and  not  meet  with  much  sport. 

In  the  course  of  many  years'  fly-fishing,  it 
had  not  been  my  fortune  to  meet  with  the  Sand 
Gnat,  though  I  had  frequently  heard  it  extolled 
by  my  seniors :  my  angling  had  been  much 
confined  to  limestone  waters,  where  it  does  not 
appear. 

It  was  a  fine  gray  morning,  early  in  June, 
somewhere  about  1825,  when  I  set  out  in  com- 
pany with  a  friend  from  Coldstream,  to  have  a 
day's  fly-fishing  in  the  Bowmont,  one  of  these 
well-stocked  little  Trout  rivers  which  rise  in  the 
Cheviots,  and  find  their  way,  by  the  Till,  into 
the  Tweed.  We  began  to  fish  about  eleven 
o'clock,  and  as  the  Trout  were  feeding  pretty 
steadily,  we  got  on  tolerably  till  about  one, 
when  we  came  to  an  abrupt  turn  of  the  river, 
with  a  fine  large  deep  dub ;  which  was  quite 
alive  with  fish.  The  flies  with  which  I  had 
previously  been  having  fair  diversion  —  the 
Grouse,  the  Spring  Dun,  and  the  Ruddy,  were 
no  longer  of  any  use.  I  was  quite  disconcerted, 
till  looking  at  the  sandy  gravel  in  which  I  stood, 
I  exclaimed,  '  It  is  the  Sand  Gnat.'  There  they 
were  by  scores,  under  and  about  my  feet,  and 
a  gleam  of  sun  and  a  light  breeze  had  sent 
them  upon  the  water.  I  sat  down  on  the  gravel 
and  caught  one,  and  made  two  imitations,  one 
at  each  end  of  a  piece  of  gut.  Hook  i ;  body, 

22 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

light-blue  silk ;  wing,  from  the  brown  part  of 
the  quill  of  a  Thrush ;  legs,  a  dark  sooty-dun 
hen's  hackle.  I  was  soon  upon  my  legs  again. 
I  got  about  twenty  fish  out  of  that  dub,  and 
raised  and  hooked  many  more.  It  was  quite 
still  when  I  left  it,  and  as  the  fly-feed  appeared 
to  be  nearly  over  for  that  day,  I  walked  away 
with  my  friend  to  Coldstream. 


THE   BIG   DUN 

appears  about  the  end  of  May,  or  beginning 
of  June ;  it  is  rather  a  large  ephemera,  and  the 
fish  are  fond  of  it.  Hook  2,  3,  wing  or  hackle, 
Sea-swallow  or  Sea-gull ;  body,  yellow  camlet 
and  pale  blue  Rabbit's  fur  mixed ;  silk,  prim- 
rose colour. 

THE    BRACKEN    CLOCK 

is  a  beetle,  bred  in  light  sandy  ground,  with 
a  south  or  west  aspect.  It  is  very  common  in 
Cumberland  and  Westmoreland,  where  it  is 
generally  called  'The  Clock.'  It  is  first  seen 
about  the  middle  of  May,  and  generally  lasts 
about  a  month.  Hook  2,  3 ;  wing  from  a 
Landrail's  wing ;  hackle  from  a  red  cock ;  silk, 
red;  body,  Peacock's  herl.  When  this  fly  is 
numerous,  there  is  no  good  fly-fishing  for  a 
month  after  it  is  fully  out.  The  fish  glut  them- 
selves with  it,  and  it  soon  makes  them  soft  and 
out  of  condition. 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 


THE    FLAT    YELLOW 

is  a  long,  flat  four-winged  May-fly.  Hook  i, 
2  ;  hackle,  a  white  cock's  or  hen's  hackle,  dyed 
with  the  '  Green  Drake  Dye ' ;  silk,  bright  yel- 
low ;  body,  a  mixture  of  stained  Hare's  fur 
(yellow),  which  may  be  got  at  the  hatters,  and 
a  little  blue  Rabbit's,  or  Water-rat's  fur  mixed. 

THE    STONE    FLY. 

A  large  flat  fly,  is  generally  most  seen  in  the 
months  of  May  and  June.  The  male  and 
female  are  very  different  in  appearance.  The 
former  has  short  wings,  which  are  only  about 
half  the  length  of  his  body,  whilst  his  lady  has 
four  large  broad  flowing  ones,  an  inch  long, 
which  give  her  a  very  imposing  appearance 
when  she  comes  paddling  across  the  stream. 
Hook  3  ;  hackle,  dark  grizzly  cock's ;  body, 
yellow  mohair  and  Water-rat's  fur  mixed ;  silk, 
light  brown. 

THE   DOWNLOOKER,    OR    OAK    FLY. 

A  rather  large  fly,  generally  seen  in  or  near 
long  grass.  It  is  not,  I  believe,  known  where 
it  is  bred,  certainly  not  in  the  oak-apple,  as 
frequently  asserted.  It  has  many  names,  and 
is  beautifully  marked  and  variegated,  both  in 
wing,  body,  and  legs,  with  shades  of  black, 
brown,  and  orange. 

It  stands  upon  a  tree,  rail,  or  post,  with  its 
24 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

head  downwards,  whence  its  name.  It  appears 
on  breezy,  sunny  days  in  May  and  June.  Hook 
2  ;  hackle,  feather  from  the  top  of  a  Woodcock's 
wing ;  body,  fur  from  a  Squirrel's  cheek  ;  silk, 
orange. 

THE  GREEN  DRAKE,  OR  CADOW. 

This  is  the  largest  ephemera  of  Trout  fishers, 
and  appears  generally  about  the  end  of  May  or 
the  beginning  of  June,  varying  about  a  week  as 
the  season  is  a  forward  one  or  otherwise.  It 
continues  a  fortnight,  or  more,  if  the  weather  be 
cold.  The  fish  are  very  partial  to  it,  and  it  is 
of  little  use  trying  anything  else  during  its  stay 
upon  the  water,  though  a  few  fish  may  be  had 
with  the  small  flies,  in  the  early  part  of  the  day, 
before  the  Drake  appears,  which  is  often  near 
two  o'clock.  Many  are  the  ways  of  imitating 
this  fly.  Very  large  hooks  are  used  for  it,  often 
5  or  6.  My  own  experience  has  led  me  to 
think  better  of  it  as  a  hackle.  Hook  2  or  3. 
A  good  light-grey  feather  is  got  from  the  side  or 
breast  of  an  old  cock  Partridge,  in  December  or 
January.  This  must  be  stained  by  the  follow- 
ing mixture : — 

DYE  FOR  THE  GREEN  DRAKE. — Take  a  large 
table-spoonful  (heaped)  of  ground  quercitron 
bark,  and  put  it  into  a  glazed  mug,  with  a  small 
tea-spoonful  of  pounded  alum.  The  feathers  to 
be  dyed  must  first  be  well  washed  with  soap  and 
warm  soft-water,  and  slowly  dried.  Pour  about 
half-a-pint  of  boiling  water  upon  the  mixture  of 
25  D 


PRACTICAL    FLY   FISHING 

bark  and  alum.  Put  the  feathers  in,  one  by 
one,  and  stir  them  well  up  with  a  bit  of  clean 
wood.  Take  out  a  feather  or  two — rinse  them 
in  cold  clear  water,  and  dry  them.  If  the 
colour  is  not  deep  enough,  add  another  spoon- 
ful of  bark,  and  a  little  more  hot  water,  till  it  is 
to  your  mind.  The  higher  coloured  ones  will 
be  best  for  the  Silk  Fly.  Put  in  a  few  white 
cock's  and  hen's  hackles  at  the  same  time,  they 
will  be  useful  for  the  Flat  Yellow  or  the  Silk 
Fly.  The  body  for  the  Green  Drake  is  of  wool 
from  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen  of  an  old 
sheep ;  silk,  rather  a  bright  yellow. 

THE  BLACK  DRAKE  OR  GREY  DRAKE. 

This  is  the  same  fly  as  the  last,  only,  having 
lived  a  few  days  longer,  and  cast  off  some  of  its 
superfluous  raiment,  it  has  become  an  old  friend 
with  a  new  face.  Hook  2,  3 ;  hackle,  a  dark 
grey  feather  from  the  side  of  the  Teal  Drake ; 
silk,  light  brown ;  body,  white  floss  silk.  This 
fly  must  be  kept  very  clean  whilst  making  it. 
After  a  broiling  hot  day,  when  the  sun  sets,  this 
fly  is  often  taken  very  greedily  for  half  an  hour 
or  an  hour. 

THE  ORANGE  FLY. 

This  is  an  afternoon  and  evening  fly,  in  the 
long  days  of  May  and  June ;  good  for  Trout  or 
Grayling,  especially  the  latter.  Hook  No.  i ; 
wing  from  the  bright  buff  part  of  a  Thrush's 
quill.  The  legs  are  imitated  by  a  feather  of 
26 


PRACTICAL    FLY   FISHING 

a  Wren's  tail,  used  as  a  hackle,  the  long  side  of 
the  feather  being  pulled  off.  The  body  is 
formed  of  orange  silk,  with  a  little  fur  from  the 
cheek  of  a  Squirrel. 


THE  BLACK  ANT. 

This  fly  is  an  inhabitant  of  woods  and  cop- 
pices, and  is  very  abundant  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  English  lakes.  The  nest  is  often 
of  enormous  size,  sometimes  containing  more 
than  a  cart-load  of  sticks  and  small  twigs.  The 
Vale  of  Duddon  swarms  with  Wood  Ants,  and 
is  the  only  place  in  which  I  have  seen  the  Wry- 
neck, which  is  said  to  feed  principally  on  these 
insects.  Like  other  Ants,  they  have  the  enjoy- 
ment of  wings  for  a  few  weeks  in  each  year ; 
and  often,  as  the  proverb  says,  { to  their  sorrow,' 
as  by  them  they  are  conveyed  to  places  where 
they  suffer  greatly  from  birds,  as  well  as  from 
fishes.  They  generally  make  their  appearance 
in  August  and  September.  Body/ a  strand  of 
Peacock's  herl,  and  one  of  black  Ostrich's  herl 
laid  on  together ;  silk,  dark  brown ;  wing,  the 
lightest  part  of  a  Starling's  quill ;  hackle  from 
a  black  Cock. 

THE  RED  ANT. 

This  fly  is  much  more  generally  distributed 
than  the  former,  and  is  frequently  a  very  good 
fly  for  Trout;  and  is  also  much  admired  by 
Grayling  in  the  month  of  September  :  especially 

27 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

in  a  clearing  water  after  a  slight  fresh,  or  in 
warm,  showery  weather.  Hook  i ;  body,  Pea- 
cock's herl ;  silk,  red ;  hackle  from  a  red  Cock ; 
wing,  Starling's  quill. 

THE  PALE  BLUE,  OR  WILLOW  FLY. 

This  is  a  capital  fly  in  September,  October, 
and  November.  It  is  often  called  the  Willow 
Fly,  perhaps,  from  its  being  most  numerous 
when  the  early  frosts  are  taking  off  the  leaves 
of  the  willows,  which  overhang  the  water. 

It  is  a  most  delicate  ephemera,  and  is  equally 
good  for  Trout  or  Grayling.  Hook  No.  i ; 
wing  from  the  Sea-swallow ;  silk,  pale  straw  or 
brimstone  colour;  hackle,  very  light  pale-blue 
hen ;  a  little  Water-rat's  fur  for  dubbing. 

This  fly  is  excellent  at  Matlock,  and  also  on 
such  parts  of  the  Wye  and  Dove  as  are  sheltered 
with  wood. 

THE  SHAMROCK  FLY. 

This  is  a  large  gnat,  and  is  excellent  in  Gray- 
ling streams,  particularly  in  September,  October, 
and  November.  Hook  i,  2 ;  middle  dun  or 
blue  dun  cock's  or  hen's  hackle ;  silk,  ivy  green  ; 
dubbing,  a  little  Hare's  face. 


28 


HOOKS 

IT  may  be  necessary  to  say  that  the  hooks 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  pages  are  the 
Kendal  ones;  numbering  from  oo  to  16 — 
the  double  cypher  being  the  smallest  Trout, 
and  No.  16  the  largest  Salmon  hook.  A  hook 
exceeding  No.  6  is  rarely  used  for  Trout  flies. 

These  hooks,  which  are  excellent  in  quality 
and  reasonable  in  price,  are  made  by  Mr.  Philip 
Hutchinson,1  late  partner  of,  and  successor  to, 
the  famous  Adlington,  of  Kendal ;  and  I  think 
that  they  are  now  made  better,  and  more  equal 
in  temper,  than  I  ever  remember  them  to  have 
been. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  is  very  obliging  in  making 
hooks  to  order,  of  any  kind  which  the  angler 
thinks  more  suitable  than  the  regular  sorts  for 
any  particular  purpose.  I  had  a  few  hundred 
bright  ones,  made  by  him  some  years  ago,  and 
they  answered  well  for  fly-fishing  on  bright 
sunny  days.  Of  course  the  size  of  hook  and 
fly  varies  with  the  water.  For  instance,  if 
No.  2  is  mentioned,  an  average  water  is  meant. 
No.  3  would  be  the  same  fly  for  a  high,  and 
No.  i  for  a  low  water. 

[x  Whose  successors,  Messrs.  G.  Hutchinson  &  Co., 
of  43  Strickland  gate,  Kendal,  worthily  sustain  the 
reputation  of  the  house.] 

29 


ON   FLY-RODS 

A  FEW  words  on  rods  for  fly-fishing.  The 
majority  of  rods  are  made,  not  primarily  for 
fishing,  but  for  portability.  When  we  had  only 
small  coaches  to  squeeze  ourselves  and  our  rods 
into,  there  was  an  excuse  for  this  ;  but  as  travel- 
ling is  now  chiefly  performed  by  steam,  and  as 
a  few  feet  in  the  length  of  a  parcel  is  no  objec- 
tion, either  upon  the  roof  of  a  railway  carriage, 
or  the  deck  of  a  steamer,  it  is  high  time  that 
there  should  be  a  radical  reform  in  rod-making. 
Lengths  of  five  or  six  feet  would  rid  us  of  at 
least  half  the  ferrules,  diminish  the  expense, 
and  greatly  increase  the  efficiency  of  fly-rods. 
I  may  be  allowed  to  observe,  that  I  never  saw 
any  kind  of  rod  that  would  open  a  line  half  so 
well,  to  say  nothing  of  the  lightness  and  comfort, 
as  a  neat,  handy,  home-made  rod,  in  two  or 
three  pieces,  without  ferrules,  made  of  such 
materials,  and  in  such  a  way,  as  some  few 
amateurs  whom  I  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing 
can  make  them. 

The  greater  number  of  fly-rods  are  also  faulty 

in  another  respect.     The  spring  is  continued 

too  far  down.     The  object  of  this  is  to  enable 

a  long  line  to  be  thrown ;  and  as  the  top  of  the 

30 


PRACTICAL   FLY    FISHING 

rod  is  unable  to  do  this,  the  assistance  of  the 
middle  is  called  in,  and  sometimes  a  portion  of 
the  butt.  This  is  a  very  ancient  as  well  as  a 
very  common  error — most  of  the  books  on 
Angling  recommending  that  the  rod  should 
play  down  to  the  hand. 

Generally  speaking,  a  long  line  is  not  required 
in  Trout-fishing,  except  in  large  rivers,  as  the 
Teviot,  Tweed,  Wharfe,  Herefordshire  Wye, 
etc.,  etc. ;  and  in  cases  of  this  kind,  it  is  much 
better  to  have  a  light  two-handed  rod  of  sixteen 
or  seventeen  feet,  as  the  character  of  the  fishing 
is  completely  changed,  and,  instead  of  throwing 
at  points^  the  streams  are  swept  by  successive 
throws,  advancing  a  step  between  each,  not 
unlike  mowing  on  a  gigantic  scale.  In  this 
kind  of  fishing,  comparatively  little  skill  or  judg- 
ment is  required.  In  Boat  Fishing,  a  long  rod 
and  short  line,  and  also  an  extra  long  shaft  for 
the  landing-net,  are  very  advantageous,  as  with 
an  expert  lander  the  time  and  trouble  of  winding 
and  unwinding  the  line  are  spared. 

The  fly-rod  proper  should  have  nearly  all  its 
play  in  the  one-third  part  next  the  top.  This 
arrangement  will  be  found  to  be  attended  by 
several  advantages,  ist.  The  line  can  be  thrown 
much  quicker ;  and  it  is  generally  desirable  to 
cover  a  feeding  fish  as  soon  as  you  can.  2nd. 
It  requires  less  room  to  turn,  amongst  wood,  or 
with  bushes,  or  high  banks,  or  rank  vegetation 
behind.  3rd.  By  the  rod  not  following  the 
line  so  far,  the  slack  line  is  got  up  by  the  time 
the  flies  are  well  on  the  water,  and  the  Angler 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

is  enabled  to  show  his  flies  in  the  quiet  part  of 
it,  beyond  the  stream,  and  to  keep  them  there  a 
little  while,  without  having  them  dragged  away 
in  a  forcible  and  unnatural  manner  the  instant 
they  touch  the  water,  which  the  natural  flies 
never  are.  4th.  Fish  can  be  better  hooked  and 
managed  amongst  rocks,  piles,  or  weeds,  or  kept 
out  of  dangerous  places.  And,  lastly,  if  a  rod 
should  unfortunately  be  broken,  it  will  always 
be  in  the  thin  part,  where  a  pocket-knife  and  a 
little  waxed  thread,  with  the  loss  of  a  few 
minutes,  will  make  a  temporary  repair,  sufficient 
to  carry  on,  through  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
without  material  inconvenience. 


ON  THE  WOODS  PROPER  FOR 
FLY-RODS 

ALMOST  any  kind  of  wood,  if  not  heavy,  will 
make  the  butt  of  a  fly-rod,  but  the  middle  and 
the  top  require  a  brisk  wood,  in  which  the 
qualities  of  elasticity  and  toughness  are  well 
combined ;  it  should  also  be  very  sound  and 
well  seasoned,  and  the  grain  must  be  in  the 
right  direction.  White  hickory  is  decidedly 
bad,  and  even  red  hickory  is  better  employed 
as  a  material  for  hand-spikes  than  fly-rods  :  like 
ash,  it  is  too  pliable  for  tops,  or  even  for  middle 
pieces.  Lancewood,  which  can  be  had  every- 
where, makes  a  middling  top,  and  is  easily 
worked,  but  it  is  heavy  and  dull,  especially  in 
damp  weather.  Bamboo  is  tough  and  pretty- 
looking,  but  slow,  and  if  severely  bent,  will 
never  return  without  help ;  Green-heart,  which 
may  now  be  got  at  any  shipbuilding  port,  is 
very  much  better ;  but  clean  and  straight-grained 
logwood  is  the  best  of  all ;  with  common  care 
seems  almost  imperishable  ;  nor  will  a  fly-fisher 
who  has  used  logwood  for  a  season  or  two 
ever  be  contented  with  anything  else.  Red-deal 
and  white-spruce  make  very  good  butts;  red 
and  yellow-pine  very  fair  ones ;  there  is  no 
33  E 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

danger  of  their  breaking  with  fair  play ;  indeed, 
I  never  remember  one  breaking,  and  from  their 
being  so  much  lighter  than  ash,  of  which  butts 
are  usually  made,  they  may  be  larger  in  the 
handling-part,  with  less  weight.  A  small  butt 
cramps  the  ringers  in  the  course  of  a  day's  fish- 
ing. White-pine  I  cannot  recommend,  nor 
beech. 

HOW  TO  MAKE  RODS  AT  HOME. 

As  all  anglers  are  not  amateur  joiners,  it  may 
be  well  to  inform  them  how  they  may  become 
possessed  of  a  few  good  rods  at  a  moderate 
price.  After  purchasing  a  small  quantity  of  the 
best  wood  that  you  can  procure,  send  for  a 
clever  joiner  (if  a  young  one  so  much  the 
better),  and  let  him  saw  up  the  wood,  under 
your  directions,  for  the  length  of  rods,  and  the 
number  of  pieces  they  are  to  consist  of ;  taking 
care  to  have  wood  enough  in  them,  but  at 
the  same  time  not  to  cut  the  middles  and 
tops  wastefully.  Then  order  him  to  splice 
them  with  rather  long  splices,  and  to  see  that 
they  are  straight.  Let  every  rod  in  the  rough 
be  well  glued  together,  and  very  firmly  bound 
with  sound  twine.  Put  them  all  in  a  dry  place, 
and  let  them  remain  there  a  day  at  least,  or 
until  the  glue  is  set.  Let  your  joiner  come 
again,  when  you  can  spare  time  to  be  with  him, 
and  let  him  bring  a  plank  or  thick  board,  at 
least  the  length  of  your  rods,  to  lay  upon  his 
bench.  Let  him  begin  at  the  top,  and  round 
34 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

and  taper  it,  dress  over  the  joinings,  and  form 
the  butt  to  your  fancy.  As  soon  as  it  begins 
to  look  like  a  rod,  handle  it,  and  tell  him  from 
time  to  time  where  to  take  off  wood,  invariably 
working  from  the  top  downwards  (as  you  must 
always  leave  wood  enough  below  to  carry  the 
top) :  when  you  find  it  play  to  your  mind,  you 
may  order  him  to  take  out  the  plane  marks 
with  a  file  and  sand-paper.  Tie  a  few  folds  of 
rag  round  each  splice,  and  pour  boiling  water 
quietly  over  them  for  a  few  minutes,  and  the 
joints  will  separate.  Any  fisherman  can  put  on 
the  rings,  and  varnish.  When  finished,  you  will 
find  it  to  handle  very  much  the  same  as  it  did 
from  the  bench :  the  rings  and  varnish  about 
compensating  for  the  filing  and  sand-paper. 

DIMENSIONS  OF  A  FLY-ROD. 

As  example  is  said  to  be  better  than  precept, 
I  here  give  the  dimensions,  etc.,  of  a  home- 
made fly-rod,  for  brook-fishing  or  small  rivers 
(about  twelve  years  old),  which  seems  no  worse 
for  wear,  and  comes  very  near  what  a  small  fly- 
rod  should  be. 

This  rod  consists  of  three  pieces  : — The  butt 
is  of  yellow-pine,  and  is  five  feet  long;  the 
middle  is  of  logwood,  four  feet  long ;  the  top, 
also  of  logwood,  is  three  feet  three  inches  and 
a  half. 

The  first  splice,  on  the  butt,  five  inches  and 
a  quarter;  the  second,  on  the  middle,  two 
inches  and  a  quarter.  Allowing  for  the  loss  by 
35 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

splices,  this  leaves  the  rod  about  twelve  feet 
long. 
Diameter  at  the  top,  yV  of  an  inch. 


Do. 

i  foot  from  the 

top,  y1^       do. 

Do. 

2  feet 

do. 

i        do. 

Do. 

3 

do. 

•§•  and  ^  of  i  do. 

Do. 

4 

do. 

I        do. 

Do. 

5 

do. 

\  and  T\-  do. 

Do. 

6 

do. 

Jandf  of|do. 

Do. 

7 

do. 

\        do. 

Do. 

8 

do. 

Jandf  of  |-do. 

Do. 

9 

do. 

1        do. 

Do. 

10 

do. 

f        do. 

Do. 

ii 

do. 

i  inch  and  —$•  do. 

Thick  end  of 

butt,  i 

inch  and  J  do. 

Weight  of  the  above  rod,  eight  ounces  and  a 
half. 

Should  you  purpose  staying  a  week  or  more 
at  any  fishing  station,  it  is  well  worth  while  to 
glue  your  spliced  rods  together,  and  bind  them 
with  fine  waxed  thread  or  silk  ;  they  will  then 
handle  as  if  they  were  all  in  one  piece.  For 
home  fishing  it  is  desirable  to  keep  a  rod  or 
two,  glued,  and  neatly  and  firmly  bound  up, 
with  a  little  varnish  over  the  joints. 


THE  ANTIQUITY  OF  FLY- 
FISHING 

THE  Art  of  Fishing  with  the  Artificial  Fly  is 
of  much  higher  antiquity  than  is  generally 
imagined ;  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
extract  from  ^Elian,  a  Greek  author,  who 
flourished  more  than  sixteen  hundred  years 
ago,  and  who  is  quoted  by  Walton,  in  his 
1  COMPLETE  ANGLER  ' ;  though,  most  probably, 
he  had  never  read  his  works,  as  a  passage  so 
interesting  could  not  well  have  escaped  his 
notice.  We  are  informed  by  his  biographer, 
that  Walton  had  not  the  advantage  of  a  learned 
education,  and  that  he  quoted  chiefly  from  the 
translations  of  Topsel  and  others. 

EXTRACT  FROM  .ELIAN. 

1 1  have  been  informed  of  the  following 
method  of  fishing,  practised  in  the  river 
Astraeus,  which  flows  between  Bersea  and 
Thessalonica.  The  fishes  bred  here  are  tinged 
with  many  colours,  and  provide  themselves 
food  from  the  indigenous  insects  which  flutter 
about  the  river. 

*  Nor  are  these  flies  of  the  same  species  with 
37 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

those  which  are  found  everywhere;  they  are 
unlike  Bees,  Wasps,  and  Hornets  :  they  bear, 
however,  some  affinity  to  each  of  these,  for, 
together  with  a  degree  of  boldness,  which  they 
possess  in  common  with  many  others,  they 
have  the  size  of  the  Hornet,  the  colour  of  the 
Wasp,  and  like  the  Bee  make  a  humming  noise 
(the  inhabitants  call  them  Hippuri).  These 
insects,  fluttering  about  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  are  not  unnoticed  by  the  fish;  for  as 
soon  as  a  fish  sees  one  of  these  flies  come  upon 
the  water,  he  sails  to  it  in  the  quietest  manner, 
lest  the  agitation  of  the  water  should  cause  it  to 
change  its  situation  ;  and  approaching  directly 
to  its  shadow,  like  a  wolf  snatching  a  sheep 
from  the  flock,  or  an  eagle  a  goose  from  the 
flight,  so  does  he  with  his  widely-gaping  mouth 
devour  it. 

'Now,  although  the  fishermen  are  by  no 
means  ignorant  of  this  circumstance,  they  do 
not  make  use  of  these  flies  to  ensnare  the  fish, 
for  upon  being  touched  with  the  hand,  they 
immediately  lose  their  natural  colour,  their 
wings  fall  off,  and  they  become  unfit  for  the 
food  of  fishes,  as  they  do  not  value  them  in  the 
least.  They,  however,  who  are  eminently 
skilled  in  the  art  of  angling,  by  a  certain  crafty 
device  and  cunning  machination  overreach 
these  fishes.  They  wrap  the  hook  round  with 
scarlet  wool,  and  to  this  they  add  two  wings 
from  the  beard  or  wattles  of  a  cock,  and  of  a 
yellowish  colour :  they  form  these  into  the 
figure  and  shape  of  the  fly :  their  rod  is  four 

33 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

cubits  long,  and  their  line  a  similar  length : 
these  hidden  deceits  they  cast  upon  the  waters ; 
the  fishes,  allured  by  the  colour,  eagerly 
approach,  and  believing  from  its  fair  appear- 
ance that  it  is  their  much-admired  food,  are 
transfixed  by  the  hooked  bait,  and  with  the  loss 
of  their  liberty,  obtain  the  vexatious  food.' — 
De  Animalium  Natura,  xv.  i. 


39 


A  DAY'S  ANGLING  IN  FRANCE 

VERY  early  in  the  year  1821,  I  was  in  France, 
and  was  obliged  to  return  before  the  season  was 
advanced ;  I  arrived  at  Montreuil  in  the  middle 
of  March ;  and,  having  heard  that  there  was  a 
pretty  little  river  near  that  place,  I  determined 
to  explore  it. 

Montreuil  is  a  very  strongly  fortified  town, 
situated  upon  a  lofty  hill  in  the  midst  of  a 
plain,  about  twenty  miles  from  Boulogne,  and 
a  dozen  miles  from  the  sea.  The  low  grounds 
and  marshes  surrounding  the  place  can,  by 
opening  the  sluices  at  the  spring-tides,  be  all 
laid  under  water. 

Owing  to  the  flatness  of  the  land,  many 
ditches  are  formed,  which  are,  as  is  usual  in 
such  situations,  both  drains  and  fences.  There 
had  been  many  wet  days  in  succession — these 
dykes  were  all  streams,  and  many  of  them 
rather  considerable  ones. 

Passing  the  barriers,  I  made  my  exit  from 
the  town  by  a  drawbridge  over  the  river  Canche, 
which  fills  the  ditches  of  the  fortress.  I  came 
soon  after  to  several  of  the  drains  which  I  have 
mentioned,  and  was  quite  at  a  loss  to  know 
which  was  the  little  river  Etrelles.  Seeing  a 
40 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

man  approaching,  I  said  to  him,  cMonsieury 
auriez-vous  la  bonte  de  me  montrer  la  petite 
riviere  d'Etrelles  ? '  '  Oh,  oui,  Monsieur,  vous 
allez  par  ce  moulin-la.  Are  you  not  English, 
sir  ?  '  *  I  believe  I  am/  I  replied.  '  Oh,  then, 
I  can  tell  you  a  great  deal  better  in  English, 
for  I  am  an  Englishman  myself,  and  I  belonged 
to  the  Hussars  who  were  quartered  here.  I 
married  a  girl,  and  when  the  troops  left,  I  got 
leave  to  remain  here,  and  I  look  after  two 
horses  for  a  gentleman  who  lives  at  Montreuil. 
But  with  regard  to  the  river, — there  is  little  or 
no  fishing  near  here,  and  the  best  is  about  twa 
leagues  off,  near  the  villages  of  Wrek  and 
Etrelles.  General  Vyvian,  who  commanded 
the  Hussar  brigade,  was  so  fond  of  fly-fishing, 
that  he  went  almost  every  day  when  the  troops 
were  not  out,  and  I  always  attended  him. 
There  is  an  old  fisherman  who  lives  at  Enxern 
— the  General  always  left  his  tackle  with  him 
through  the  winter — a  very  honest  old  fellow/ 
I  gave  the  old  soldier  a  shilling  for  his  informa- 
tion, and  walked  on  in  the  direction  he  had 
sent  me,  but  got  entangled  in  a  bye-water, 
which  ran  about  two  miles ;  and  when  I  got 
out  of  this  labyrinth  it  was  too  late  to  think  of 
proceeding  up  the  water,  the  feed  at  this  early 
part  of  the  season  being  very  short.  I  saw  a 
man  catching  Eels ;  he  told  me  that  there  were 
no  Trout  in  that  part  of  the  water,  but  a  good 
many  higher  up,  in  the  streams,  and  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  Sea-Trout  in  the  autumn,  some 
of  them  of  a  very  large  size.  I  returned  to  the 
41  F 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

Hotel  de  1'Europe,  a  very  comfortable  and 
reasonable  house,  to  take  up  my  quarters  for 
the  night. 

When  I  arose  in  the  morning,  I  found  that 
the  frost  had  been  very  severe  during  the  night, 
and  the  ice  was  of  considerable  thickness. 
Having  nothing  else  to  do,  I  breakfasted,  and 
again  ascended  the  stream  of  Etrelles,  about 
two  leagues,  through  a  very  beautiful  valley, 
extremely  well  wooded.  I  had  a  rod,  eight  feet 
and  a  half  long,  composed  of  four  pieces,  and 
spliced  together  with  slanting  joints.  The  two 
lower  pieces  were  of  lancewood,  the  upper  ones 
of  logwood.  Though  it  was  in  appearance  but 
a  hand-whip,  yet  it  opened  well  a  line  of  eight 
yards  and  a  half.  This  rod  I  carried  in  my 
portmanteau. 

As  the  morning  was  so  cold,  I  sauntered 
along,  admiring  the  little  villages  and  chateaus 
with  which  the  valley  was  studded.  In  one  part 
of  my  route,  observing  a  sequestered  hamlet 
environed  with  trees,  I  made  a  deviation  to 
explore  it;  but  no  sooner  had  I  got  into  it, 
than  I  was  surrounded  by  about  a  score  of  curs 
of  various  sizes  and  shapes,  who  seemed  bent 
on  worrying  me.  I  confess  I  felt  rather  alarmed, 
and  took  refuge  in  a  hovel,  where  an  old  couple 
lived.  The  old  woman  had  two  dun  hens  of 
excellent  colour,  and  I  asked  her  if  she  would 
allow  me  to  have  a  few  feathers  from  them. 
'  Oh,  certainement,  Monsieur.7  And  strewing 
a  handful  of  corn  on  the  floor,  she  had  her 
flock  in  the  house  quickly.  I  gave  her 
42 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

a  half  franc,  with  which  she  was  much  pleased, 
and,  driving  away  the  host  of  collies,  she 
escorted  me  out  of  danger.  My  road  lay  on  the 
side  of  the  hill  which  skirted  the  valley,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  river,  through  immense  corn- 
fields, intersected  only  by  hollow  roads,  which 
the  heavy  rains  had  made  to  resemble  the  dry 
beds  of  torrents,  being  strewed  with  flint-stones, 
of  which  the  soil  is  full,  and  which,  from  their 
knotty  and  knobbed  forms,  have  a  striking 
resemblance  to  bones  blanched  in  the  sun. 
Many  of  the  peasants  were  ploughing,  and  I 
stood  still  some  time  admiring  the  dexterity  of 
one  man  who  was  cleverly  managing  a  team  of 
five  horses  without  a  driver.  When  I  came  to 
that  part  of  the  river  which  I  intended  to  fish, 
the  sun  was  very  bright,  and  the  wind  easterly 
and  cold.  I  tried  some  time,  but  saw  no  evi- 
dence of  a  fish  being  in  the  water.  At  last  my 
eyes  were  gladdened  by  seeing  about  half  a 
dozen  of  my  old  English  friends,  the  Spring 
Dun  and  the  Blue  Dun,  sailing  down  the 
stream,  and  two  exceeding  good  Trout  rose  at 
them  just  opposite  to  me.  A  bottom  of  flies, 
which  had  been  successful  in  Dovedale,  was 
soon  attached,  and  after  soaking  it  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  stream,  I  prepared  for  action.  The 
point-fly  was  a  Spring  Dun,  the  first  hanger  a 
Ruddy  cock's  hackle  with  a  little  black  Ostrich, 
and  the  third,  what  in  Derbyshire  is  called  the 
Turkey-fly,  or  large  March-brown.  I  threw 
over  the  first  fish,  and  in  a  moment  we  were 
together ;  and  after  a  famous  battle  I  landed 
43 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

him.  I  did  the  same  with  the  second ;  and 
perceiving  other  fishes  rising  above  me,  I  had 
an  hour  of  very  good  fishing. 

About  a  score  I  lost,  as,  from  the  shortness 
of  my  rod,  I  could  not  hold  them  up ;  and  they 
got  down  to  the  gravel,  and  rubbed  the  fly  out 
of  their  noses  in  spite  of  me.  However,  I 
managed  to  land  seven  fish  in  very  good  con- 
dition, and  I  had  scarcely  one  under  a  pound. 
I  varied  my  walk  by  taking  the  right  bank  of 
the  river  on  my  return,  and  upon  the  whole 
enjoyed  the  day  very  much. 


44 


APPENDIX 

BY  ARTHUR  SEVERN,  JUNIOR 

AND 
AGNEW  RUSKIN  SEVERN 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES  ON 
ARTIFICIAL  FLIES 


THE  BLUE  DUN 

APPEARS  about  the  end  of  March,  and  is  a 
good  fly  all  through  the  season,  especially  on  cold 
dark  days.  It  is  equally  useful  for  lake  and 
stream  fishing. 

Body,  dubbed  with  the  fur  of  a  water-rat,  and 
ribbed  with  yellow  silk ;  legs,  dun  hen's  hackle  ; 
wings  from  the  feather  of  the  Starling's  wing  ; 
tail,  two  strands  of  a  grizzle  cock's  hackle.  Hook, 
No.  10  ;  or  7  or  8  for  a  lake. 


THE  ALDER. 

Also  very  good  both  for  lake  and  stream  fishing. 
It  comes  in  May,  and  will  kill  fish  even  when  the 
May-fly  is  on  the  water. 

Body,  Peacock's  herl  tied  with  dark  brown  silk  ; 
legs,  coch-a-bonddu  hackle  ;  wings,  the  brown 
speckled  feather  of  a  Mallard's  back.  Hook, 
No.  8. 

If  this  fly  be  dressed  on  a  6  or  7  hook,  and 
winged  with  the  red  rump-feather  of  a  Pheasant, 
it  will  be  found  an  excellent  lake  fly. 
47 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 


THE  PHEASANT  AND  GREEN. 

Good  throughout  the  season,  and  best  on  a  dark 
day.  The  fish  will  often  take  it  when  they  refuse 
others. 

Hook,  No.  7  ;  silk,  apple-green  ;  wing,  from  a 
hen  Pheasant's  tail ;  legs,  black.  This  fly  may 
be  used  successfully  on  any  of  the  English  lakes. 


THE  HARE'S  EAR. 

A  capital  fly  for  June  and  August. 

Body,  the  fur  of  the  Hare's  ear  ;  wings,  the 
feather  from  a  Starling's  wing  ;  tail,  two  fibres  of 
the  brown  feather  from  a  Starling's  wing.  Hook, 
about  No.  10  for  streams,  but  on  a  lake  about 
No.  7  or  8. 

This  fly  will  often  kill  fish  with  a  Woodcock's  or 
Pheasant's  wing. 


THE  SOLDIER  PALMER. 

This  fly  will  take  almost  anywhere. 
Body,  red  mohair  ribbed  with  gold  twist ;  and 
over  all,  a  red  cock's  hackle. 


HOFLAND'S  FANCY. 

This  is  a  south  country  fly,  which  we  have  used 
with  success  after  sunset  in  the  Lake  District,  for 
both  lake  and  stream  fishing. 

Body,  a  reddish  brown  silk  ;  legs,  red  hackle  ; 
wings,  from  a  Woodcock's  tail  ;  two  or  three  fibres 
of  a  red  hackle. 


APPENDIX 


THE  RED  PALMER 

is  a  good  fly,  either  for  lakes  or  streams 
throughout  the  season.  Body,  Peacock's  herl ; 
a  red  cock's  hackle  over  all.  Hook,  about  No.  8. 

MR.  PRITT'S  FLIES. 

There  are  also  a  number  of  north  country 
Hackle  Flies  invented  by  Mr.  Pritt.  They  are 
used  very  successfully  in  the  Lake  District,  in 
Yorkshire,  and  in  a  few  other  counties.  Some  of 
the  principal  are  Dark  Snipe  and  Purple  ;  Dark 
Woodcock  ;  Partridge  and  Orange  ;  Night  Hawk  ; 
Brown  Owl ;  and  Dark  Starling.  They  can  be  got 
from  Hutchinson  of  Kendal,  or  at  any  good 
tackle-shop. 


49 


FLY-RODS  AND  LANDING-NETS 


MR.  BEEVER'S  model  was  excellent,  no  doubt ; 
but  nowadays  fly-rods  are  made  more  or  less  with 
Hickory,  Green-heart,  or  Split-cane  ;  and  the  tops 
are  sometimes  Lancewood.  They  are  brought  to 
such  perfection,  with  balance-handles,  snake-rings, 
and  lock-joints,  that  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  go 
to  the  trouble  and  expense  of  making  a  rod  at 
home.  The  number  of  joints  is  a  matter  of  taste  : 
more  than  three  are  not  necessary.  As  a  rule, 
however,  every  fisherman  has  his  own  pet  rod,  and 
will  hear  of  no  other. 

A  landing-net  should  be  carried,  if  there  is  a 
chance  of  a  big  fish.  A  very  good  model,  which 
can  be  used  while  wading,  has  a  short  handle,  a 
pear-shaped  ash  ring,  water-proof  net,  and  a  clip 
which  fixes  on  to  the  strap  of  the  basket.  This 
net  can  be  brought  into  action  very  easily,  and  is 
quite  as  serviceable  as  more  elaborate  patterns. 


CHAR-FISHING 

No  account  of  fishing  in  the  English  Lake 
District  at  the  present  time  would  be  quite  com- 
plete without  some  mention  of  Char.  A  separate 
description  is  necessary,  because  these  fish  seldom 
rise  to  a  fly,  and,  when  they  are  not  netted,  are 
usually  caught  by  Trolling,  which  is  differently 
managed  at  different  times  of  the  year. 

The  Plumb-line. — Early  in  the  season,  that  is  to 
say  in  the  end  of  March  and  during  April  and  the 
first  weeks  of  May,  the  Char  are  found  very  deep, 
in  about  ninety  feet  of  water.  It  is  necessary  then 
to  use  the  plumb-line,  though  difficult  to  manage. 

You  have  about  40  yards  of  strong  fine  line,  six- 
thread,  with  a  pound  and  a  half  of  lead,  pear- 
shaped,  at  the  end.  The  plumb  has  sometimes  a 
wing  or  fin  of  tin  inserted  to  prevent  its  spinning 
and  twisting  the  line.  To  this  plumb-line  you 
attach  at  different  depths  half  a  dozen  gut  lines, 
with  3  or  4  swivels  on  each  ;  they  should  be  of 
salmon  gut,  as  they  have  occasionally  to  bear 
very  considerable  strain.  The  lowest  gut  line  is 
about  three  yards  long  ;  the  highest  about  five. 
In  this  way  you  will  be  sure  to  hit  the  right  depth 
for  the  fish. 

The  plumb-line  is  carried  by  a  stout  rod,  about 
ten  feet  long,  fixed  into  the  stern  of  the  boat.  The 
country  fishermen  cut  their  own  rods  of  ash  ;  they 
then  tie  about  three  yards  of  twine  to  the  top,  and 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

fix  a  wire  hook  at  the  end  of  the  twine.  On  the 
plumb-line  proper  they  make  a  loop,  which  they 
hang  on  the  hook,  leaving  three  or  four  yards  of 
the  proper  line  in  hand,  to  be  wrapped  on  the 
winder  and  laid  within  reach  of  the  fisherman  as 
he  sits  rowing,  with  gentle  short  strokes,  at  an 
easy  pace,  enough  to  make  the  baits  spin  quietly, 
but  no  more. 

When  the  jerking  of  the  rod  tells  of  a  bite,  the 
fisher  rows  steadily  until  he  is  sure  the  fish  is 
hooked,  and  then  pulls  in  the  line  (unhooking  it 
from  the  rod,  if  he  thinks  well,  or  else  leaving  it 
hooked)  until  he  comes  to  the  fish. 

When  the  fish  comes  to  the  top  of  the  water,  if 
it  offers  a  lively  resistance,  it  must  not  be  allowed 
to  get  under  water  again  ;  but  it  must  be  pulled 
steadily  out,  and,  if  large,  landed  with  a  net.  In 
Windermere  Char  are  sometimes  caught  over  a 
pound ;  but  in  Coniston  Water  they  average  five 
to  the  pound,  and  do  not  usually  need  the  landing- 
net. 

Ordinary  Trolling. — By  the  end  of  May  the 
Char  come  up  to  the  top  of  the  water,  so  that 
during  June  and  July  trolling  is  much  simpler. 
Instead  of  the  complicated  plumb-line,  you  have 
a  cast  about  four  yards  long,  with  swivels  on  it,  at 
the  end  of  a  line  of  about  forty-five  yards.  This 
is  managed  with  a  rod  and  wire  hook,  in  the  way 
already  described,  except  that  the  rods  for  this 
kind  of  trolling  are  cut  thirteen  or  fourteen  feet 
long  ;  and  three  or  four  rods  and  lines  are  used  at 
once,  as  there  is  only  one  cast  to  each. 

The  Char  go  down  a  little  in  July,  so  that  during 
August  you  must  put  some  lead,  about  a  J  to  \ 
an  ounce,  on  your  line,  one  or  two  feet  above  the 
cast.  They  come  up  again  in  September,  and  the 
fishing  is  as  it  was  in  June.  But  they  now  begin 
to  go  nearer  the  shore,  in  shoals,  in  anticipation 
52 


APPENDIX 

of  their  spawning-time,  which,  at  Coniston,  is 
in  October ;  in  Windermere  it  is  later.  During 
September,  therefore,  it  is  better  to  leave  the  deep 
parts  of  the  lake,  and  try  about  100  yards  from 
the  shore,  now  and  then  turning  in  towards  the 
bank  ;  and  as  they  go  in  shoals,  when  one  is 
caught,  the  same  ground  should  be  fished  over 
again. 

Kinds  of  Char. — In  the  English  lakes  there  are 
two  kinds  of  Char ;  the  Red^  most  familiarly 
known,  and  largest ;  with  bellies  red  all  through 
the  season,  but  redder  towards  spawning-time ; 
red  pectoral  fins,  and  dark  backs,  looking  black  or 
violet  in  some  lights  : — and  the  Silver  Char,  al- 
together lighter  in  appearance  than  the  red  ;  with 
bellies  and  pectoral  fins  inclining  to  orange ; 
backs  silvery,  with  a  few  very  pale  pink  spots. 
The  Silver  Char,  though  smaller,  are  thought  to  be 
more  delicately  flavoured  than  the  Red.  The 
flesh  of  both  kinds  is  red. 

Baits. — As  we  said,  Char  seldom  rise  to  the 
fly.  When  you  see  them  playing  in  shoals  on  the 
surface  it  is  very  little  use  fishing  for  them ; 
though  when  one  or  two  here  and  there  rise 
almost  imperceptibly,  making  a  faint  ring  on  the 
water,  they  can  be  caught. 

In  the  early  season  they  take  best  the  natural 
minnow  on  a  Chapman  or  Archer  Spinner.  For 
ordinary  trolling  (without  the  plumb)  it  is  best  to 
have  three  lines  out,  one  with  a  natural  minnow, 
and  two  with  artificial  baits  of  different  shapes  : 
you  will  soon  find  which  is  the  most  successful. 

Country  fishermen  make  their  own  baits  of  old 
carriage-lamp  reflectors,  or  other  thin  metal ;  one 
side  painted  with  vermilion  and  the  other  showing 
the  silver  highly  polished.  The  baits  are  about 
i£  inches  long  with  a  swivel  at  the  head,  a  small 
triangle  hook  at  the  tail,  and  two  little  fans  or  fins 

53 


PRACTICAL    FLY    FISHING 

cut  out  at  the  sides,  turned  opposite  ways  to  make 
them  spin.  The  most  useful  shapes  are  those 
shown  in  the  figure. 

Licence  for  Trout  and  Char  includes  fly-fishing 
and  trolling,  and  can  be  got  for  half-a-crown  at 
any  Post-office. 


54 


EDINBURGH 

T.    &>   A.    CONSTABLE 

Printers  to  Her  Majesty 

MDCCCXCIII 


LIST    OF    BOOKS 


MAY  1893. 

MESSRS.     METHUEN'S 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 


Gladstone.  THE  SPEECHES  AND  PUBLIC  ADDRESSES 
OF  THE  RT.  HON.  W.  E.  GLADSTONE,  M.P.  With  Notes. 
Edited  by  A.  W.  HUTTON,  M.A.  (Librarian  of  the  Gladstone 
Library),  and  H.  J.  COHEN,  M.A.  With  Portraits.  Svo.  Vol.  IX. 
I2s.  6d. 

Messrs.  METHUEN  beg  to  announce  that  they  are  about  to  issue,  in  ten  volumes 
8vo,  an  authorised  collection  of  Mr.  Gladstone's  Speeches,  the  work  being  under- 
taken with  his  sanction  and  under  his  superintendence.  Notes  and  Introductions 
will  be  added. 

In  view  of  the  interest  in  the  Home  Rule  Question,  it  is  proposed  to  issue  Vols.  IX. 
and  X.,  which  will  include  the  speeches  of  the  last  seven  or  eight  years,  im- 
mediately, and  then  to  proceed  with  the  earlier  volumes.  Volume  X.  is  already 
published. 

Henley   &    Whibley.     A   BOOK    OF    ENGLISH    PROSE. 

Collected  by  W.    E.  HENLEY  and  CHARLES  WHIBLEY.     Crown 

%vo.  [October. 

Also  small  limited  editions  on  Dutch  and  Japanese  paper.     2is. 

and  42J.  net. 

A  companion  book  to  Mr.  Henley's  well-known  Lyra  Heroica.  It  is  believed  that 
no  such  collection  of  splendid  prose  has  ever  been  brought  within  the  compass  of 
one  volume.  Each  piece,  whether  containing  a  character-sketch  or  incident,  is 
complete  in  itself.  The  book  will  be  finely  printed  and  bound. 

Henley.  ENGLISH  LYRICS.  Selected  and  Edited  by 
W.  E.  HENLEY.  In  Two  Editions  : 

A  limited  issue  on  hand-made  paper.  Large  crown  8vo.   los.  6d.  net. 

A  small  issue  on  finest  large  Japanese  paper.    Demy  8v0.    42$.  net. 

The  announcement  of  this  important  collection  of  English  Lyrics  will  excite  wide 

interest.     It  will  be  finely  printed  by  Messrs.  Constable  &  Co.,  and  issued  in 

limited  editions. 

Cheyne.  FOUNDERS  OF  OLD  TESTAMENT  CRITICISM: 
Biographical,  Descriptive,  and  Critical  Studies.  By  T.  K.  CHEYNE, 
D.D.,  Oriel  Professor  of  the  Interpretation  of  Holy  Scripture  at 
Oxford.  Large  crown  $>vo.  Js.  6d.  [May. 

This  important  book  is  a  historical  sketch  of  O.T.  Criticism  in  the  form  of  biographi- 
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It  is  the  only  book  of  its  kind  in  English. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  3 

Prior.     CAMBRIDGE  SERMONS.    Edited  by  C.  H.  PRIOR, 

M.  A. ,  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  Pembroke  College.     Crown  %vo.     6s. 

{October. 

A  volume  of  sermons  preached  before  the  University  of  Cambridge  by  various 
preachers,  including  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  Bishop  Westcott. 

Collingwood.  JOHN  KUSKIN :  His  Life  and  Work.  By 
W.  G.  COLLINGWOOD,  M.A.,  late  Scholar  of  University  College, 
Oxford,  Author  of  the  'Art  Teaching  of  John  Ruskin,'  Editor  of 
Mr.  Ruskin's  Poems.  2  vols.  8vo.  $2s.  [Ready. 

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This  important  work  is  written  by  Mr.  Collingwood,  who  has  been  for  some  years 
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materials  for  this  book  from  Mr.  Ruskin  himself  and  from  his  friends.  It  con- 


biography  of  Mr.  Ruskin.  The  book  contains  numerous  portraits  of  Mr. 
Ruskin,  including  a  coloured  one  from  a  water-colour  portait  by  himself,  and  also  13 
sketches,  never  before  published,  by  Mr.  Ruskin  and  Mr.  Arthur  Severn.  A  biblio- 
graphy is  added. 

The  First  Edition  having  been  at  once  exhausted,  a  Second  is  now  ready. 

'  No  more  magnificent  volumes  have  been  published  for  a  long  time  than  "  The  Life 
and  Work  of  John  Ruskin."  In  binding,  paper,  printing,  and  illustrations  they  will 
satisfy  the  most  fastidious.  They  will  be  prized  not  only  by  the  band  of  devotees 
who  look  up  to  Mr.  Ruskin  as  the  teacher  of  the  age,  but  by  the  many  whom  no 
eccentricities  can  blind  to  his  genius.  .  .  .  These  volumes  cannot  be  dismissed  with- 
out a  word  as  to  the  beauty  of  the  Illustrations,  which  show  Mr.  Ruskin's  extra- 
ordinary artistic  precocity.' — Times. 

1  These  volumes  are  valuable  alike  in  their  contents  and  in  the  care  with  which  they 
are  issued  from  the  press.  They  contain  many  drawings — some  of  Mr.  Ruskin, 
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books  about  Mr.  Ruskin  that  these  extra  ones  are  needed.  They  survey  all  the 
others,  and  supersede  most  of  them,  and  they  give  us  the  great  writer  as  a  whole 
.  .  .  He  has  given  us  everything  needful — a  biography,  a  systematic  account  of  his 
writings,  and  a  bibliography.  .  .  .  This  most  lovingly  written  and  most  profoundly 
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1  The  story  of  Mr.  Ruskin's  life  and  work,  as  told  by  Mr.  Collingwood  in  two  thick 
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judgment.  Mr.  Collingwood  is  an  artist  whose  sympathies  are  always  on  the  right 
side.  .  .  .  His  two  volumes  are  fitted  with  elaborate  indices  and  tables,  which  will 
one  day  be  of  immense  use  to  the  students  of  Ruskin's  work.  ...  It  is  a  book 
which  will  be  very  widely  and  deservedly  read.' — St.  James's  Gazette. 


4  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

John  Beever.  PRACTICAL  FLY-FISHING.  Founded  on 
Nature,  by  JOHN  BEEVER,  late  of  the  Thwaite  House,  Coniston.  A 
New  Edition,  with  a  Memoir  of  the  Author  by  W.  G.  COLLINGWOOD, 
M.A.,  Author  of  'The  Life  and  Work  of  John  Ruskin,'  etc.  Also 
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[Ready. 

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print  for  some  time,  and  being  still  much  in  request,  is  now  issued  with  a  Memoir 
of  the  Author  by  \V.  G.  Collingwood. 

Hosken.    VERSES  BY  THE  WAY.    BY  J.  D.  HOSKEN. 
Printed  on  laid  paper,  and  bound  in  buckram,  gilt  top.     $s. 
Also  a  small  edition  on  large  Dutch  hand-made  paper.      Price 
I2s.  6d.  net*  {October. 

A  Volume  of  Lyrics  and  Sonnets  by  J.  D.  Hosken,  the  Postman  Poet,  of  Helston, 
Cornwall,  whose  interesting  career  is  now  more  or  less  well  known  to  the  literary 
public.  Q,  the  Author  of  'The  Splendid  Spur,'  etc.,  will  write  a  critical  and 
biographical  introduction. 

Oscar  Browning.  GUELPHS  AND  GHIBELLINES.  A  Short 
History  of  Mediaeval  Italy,  A.D.  1250-1409.  By  OSCAR  BROWNING, 
Fellow  and  Tutor  of  King's  College,  Cambridge.  Crown  Svo.  $s. 

Oliphant.  THOMAS  CHALMERS  :  A  Biography.  By  Mrs. 
OLIPHANT.  With  Portrait.  Crown  Svo.  Buckram,  $s.  [Ready. 

A  Life  of  the  celebrated  Scottish  divine  from  the  capable  and  sympathetic  pen  of 
Mrs.  Oliphant,  which  will  be  welcome  to  a  large  circle  of  readers.  It  will  be 
issued  uniform  with  Mr.  Lock's  'Life  of  John  Keble.' 

Anthony    Hope.      A    CHANGE    OF    AIR:    A    Novel.      By 

ANTHONY  HOPE,  Author  of  '  Mr.   Witt's  Widow,'  etc.      i  vol. 

Crown  Svo.     6s.  [Ready. 

A  bright  story  by  Mr.  Hope,  who  has,  the  Athenceum  says,  'a  decided  outlook  and 

individuality  of  his  own.' 

Baring  Gould.  MRS.  CURGENVEN  OF  CURGENVEN. 
By  S.  BARING  GOULD,  Author  of  'Mehalah,'  'Old  Country  Life, ' 
etc.  Crown  Svo.  3  vols.  31  s.  6d.  [Ready. 

A  powerful  and  characteristic  story  of  Devon  life  by  the  author  of '  Mehalah. ' 

Benson.     DODO :   A   DETAIL   OF   THE   DAY.     By  E.   F. 

BENSON.     Crown  Svo.     2  vols.     2is.  [Ready. 

A  story  of  society  by  a  new  writer,  full  of  interest  and  power,  which  will  attract 
considerable  notice. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  5 

Parker.    MRS.  FALCHION.    By  GILBERT  PARKER,  Author  of 

*  Pierre  and  His  People.'     2  vols.     Crown  8v0.     2is.  [Ready. 

A  new  story  by  a  writer  whose  previous  work,  '  Pierre  and  his  People,'  was  received 
with  unanimous  favour,  and  placed  him  at  once  in  the  front  rank. 

'  There  is  strength  and  genius  in  Mr.  Parker's  style.'  —  Daily  Telegraph. 

4  His  style  of  portraiture  is  always  effectively  picturesque,  and  sometimes  finely 
imaginative—  the  fine  art  which  is  only  achieved  by  the  combination  of  perfect 
vision  and  beautifully-  adequate  rendering.'  —  Daily  Chronicle. 

1  He  has  the  right  stuff  in  him.     He  has  the  story-teller's  gift.—  St.  James's  Gazette. 

Pearce.  JACO  TRELOAR.  By  J.  H.  PEARCE,  Author  of 
'Esther  Pentreath.'  2  vols.  CroivnSvo.  2is.  [Ready. 

A  tragic  story  of  Cornish  life  by  a  writer  of  remarkable  power,  whose  first  novel  has 
been  highly  praised  by  Mr.  Gladstone. 

Norris.      HIS    GRACE.      By    W.    E.     NORRIS,    Author   of 

'  Mademoiselle  de  Mersac,'  '  The  Rogue,'  etc.     Third  and  Cheaper 

Edition.     Crown  %vo.     6s.  [October. 

An  edition  in  one  volume  of  a  novel  which  in  its  two  volume  form  quickly  ran  through 

two  editions. 

Pryce.    TIME  AND  THE  WOMAN.      By  RICHARD  PRYCE, 

Author  of  *  Miss  Maxwell's  Affections/  '  The  Quiet  Mrs.  Fleming,' 

etc.     New  and  Cheaper  Edition.      Crown  %vo.     6s.  [October. 

Mr.  Pryce's  work  recalls  the  style  of  Octave  Feuillet,  by  its  clearness,  conciseness, 

its  literary  reserve.'  —  Atheneeum. 

Dickenson.     A   VICAR'S   WIFE.     By  EVELYN  DICKENSON. 

Cheap  Edition.     Crown  $vo.    3.?.  6d.  [Ready. 

Prowse.    THE  POISON  OF  ASPS.    By  R.  ORTON  PROWSE. 

Cheap  Edition.    Crown  8vo.    %s.  6d.  [Ready. 

Taylor.     THE   KING'S   FAVOURITE.     By   UNA   TAYLOR. 

Cheaper  Edition.     I  vol.     Crown  %vo.     6s.  [Ready. 

A  cheap  edition  of  a  novel  whose  style  and  beauty  of  thought  attracted  much  attention. 

Baring  Gould.  THE  STORY  OF  KING  OLAF.  By  S. 
BARING  GOULD,  author  of  'Mehalah,'  etc.  Illustrated.  Crown 

Sz><?.    6s.  [  October. 

A  stirring  story  of  Norway,  written  for  boys  by  the  author  of  '  In  the  Roar  of  the  Sea.' 

Cuthell.  THECHILDREN  AND  CHING.  By  Mrs.  CUTHELL. 
Illustrated.  Crown  8vo.  6s.  [October. 

Another  story,  with  a  dog  hero,  by  the  author  of  the  very  popular  '  Only  a  Guard- 
Room  Dog.' 

Blake.  TODDLEBEN'S  HERO.  By  M.  BLAKE,  author  of 
4  The  Siege  of  Norwich  Castle.'  With  over  30  Illustrations.  Crown 
Sv0.  5-r.  [October. 


Sv0.     5-r. 
A  story  of  military  life  for  children. 


6  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

NEW  TWO-SHILLING    EDITIONS 

Crown  8vo,  Picture  Boards.  < 

A  DOUBLE  KNOT.    By  G.  MANVILLE  FENN. 

A  REVEREND  GENTLEMAN.     By  J.  MACLAREN  COBBAN. 

MR.  BUTLER'S  WARD.    By  MABEL  ROBINSON. 

UNIVERSITY   EXTENSION   SERIES 

ELECTRICAL    SCIENCE.      By  GEORGE  J.   BuRCH.     With 

numerous  Illustrations.     $s. 

THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  FIRE.  By  M.  M.  PATTISON  Mum. 
2s.  6d. 

AGRICULTURAL  BOTANY.  By  M.  C.  POTTER.  Copiously 
Illustrated.  Crown  $vo.  3$.  6d. 

SOCIAL  QUESTIONS  OF  TO-DAY 

Crown  %vo,  2s.  6d. 

WOMEN'S  WORK.  By  LADY  DILKE,  Miss  BEILLEY,  and 
Miss  ABRAHAM. 

BACK  TO  THE  LAND.  By  HAROLD  E.  MOORE,  F.S.I., 
Author  of  '  Hints  on  Land  Improvement  ,  '  Agricultural  Co- 
operation,' etc. 


anti  l&ccent 
Poetry 


Eudyard    Kipling.      BARRACK-ROOM     BALLADS;     And 

Other  Verses.     By  RUDYARD    KIPLING.     Sixth  Edition.     Crown 
8v0.     6s. 

A  Special  Presentation  Edition,  bound   in  white  buckram,  with 
extra  gilt  ornament.     Js.  6d. 

1  Mr.  Kipling's  verse  is  strong,  vivid,  full  of  character.  .  .  .  Unmistakable  genius 
rings  in  every  line.' — Times. 

1  The  disreputable  lingo  of  Cockayne  is  henceforth  justified  before  the  world  ;  for  a 
man  of  genius  has  taken  it  in  hand,  and  has  shown,  beyond  all  cavilling,  that  in 
its  way  it  also  is  a  medium  for  literature.  You  are  grateful,  and  you  say  to 
yourself,  half  in  envy  and  half  in  admiration :  "  Here  is  a  book  ;  here,  or  one  is  a 
Dutchman,  is  one  of  the  books  of  the  year."  ' — National  Observer. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  7 

'"Barrack-Room  Ballads"  contains  some  of  the  best  work  that  Mr.  Kipling  has 
ever  done,  which  is  saying  a  good  deal.  "  Fuzzy-Wuzzy,"  "Gunga  Din,"  and 
"  Tommy,"  are,  in  our  opinion,  altogether  superior  to  anything  of  the  kind  that 
English  literature  has  hitherto  produced.' — Atkenceum. 

1  These  ballads  are  as  wonderful  in  their  descriptive  power  as  they  are  vigorous  in 
their  dramatic  force.  There  are  few  ballads  in  the  English  language  more 
stirring  than  "The  Ballad  of  East  and  West,"  worthy  to  stand  by  the  Border 
ballads  of  Scott.' — Spectator. 

'  The  ballads  teem  with  imagination,  they  palpitate  with  emotion.  We  read  them 
with  laughter  and  tears ;  the  metres  throb  in  our  pulses,  the  cunningly  ordered 
words  tingle  with  life  ;  and  if  this  be  not  poetry,  what  is  ? ' — Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Henley.  LYRA  HEROICA  :  An  Anthology  selected  from  the 
best  English  Verse  of  the  i6th,  I7th,  i8th,  and  iQth  Centuries.  By 
WILLIAM  ERNEST  HENLEY,  Author  of  *  A  Book  of  Verse,'  *  Views 
and  Reviews,'  etc.  Crown  Svo.  Stamped  gilt  buckram,  gilt  top, 
edges  uncut.  6s. 

'  Mr.  Henley  has  brought  to  the  task  of  selection  an  instinct  alike  for  poetry  and  for 
chivalry  which  seems  to  us  quite  wonderfully,  and  even  unerringly,  right.' — 
Guardian. 

Tomson.    A  SUMMER  NIGHT,  AND  OTHER  POEMS.    By 
GRAHAM  R.  TOMSON.     With  Frontispiece  by  A.  TOMSON,     Fcap. 
&vo.     y.  6d. 
Also  an  edition  on  handmade  paper,  limited  to  50  copies.     Large  crown 

8vo.     los.  6d.  net. 

'  Mrs.  Tomson  holds  perhaps  the  very  highest  rank  among  poetesses  of  English  birth. 
This  selection  will  help  her  reputation.' — Black  and  White. 

Ibsen.    BRAND.    A  Drama  by  HENRIK  IBSEN.    Translated  by 

WILLIAM  WILSON.     Crown  8vo.     $s. 

'The  greatest  world-poem  of  the  nineteenth  century  next  to  "Faust."  "Brand" 
will  have  an  astonishing  interest  for  Englishmen.  It  is  in  the  same  set  with 
"Agamemnon,"  with  "  Lear,"  with  the  literature  that  we  now  instinctively  regard 
as  high  and  holy.' — Daily  Chronicle. 

"  Q."  GREEN  BAYS  :  Verses  and  Parodies.  By  "  Q.,"  Author 
of  *  Dead  Man's  Rock '  etc.  Second  Edition.  Fcap.  8vo.  3^.  6d. 

( The  verses  display  a  rare  and  versatile  gift  of  parody,  great  command  of  metre,  and 
a  very  pretty  turn  of  humour.' — Times. 

"A.  G."     VERSES  TO   ORDER.     By  "A.  G.»     Crown  Svo, 

cloth  extra,  gilt  top.     2s.  6d.  net. 

A  small  volume  of  verse  by  a  writer  whose  initials  are  well  known  to  Oxford  men. 
'  A  capital  specimen  of  light  academic  poetry.     These  verses  are  very  bright  and 
engaging,  easy  and  sufficiently  witty.' — St.  James's  Gazette. 


8  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

Langbridge.  A  CRACKED  FIDDLE.  Being  Selections  from 
the  Poems  of  FREDERIC  LANGBRIDGE.  With  Portrait.  Crown  Svo.  $s. 

Langbridge.  BALLADS  OF  THE  BRAVE :  Poems  of  Chivalry, 
Enterprise,  Courage,  and  Constancy,  from  the  Earliest  Times  to  the 
Present  Day.  Edited,  with  Notes,  by  Rev.  F.  LANGBRIDGE. 
Crown  8vo.  Buckram  $s.  6d.  School  Edition,  2s.  6d. 

1 A  very  happy  conception  happily  carried  out.  These  "Ballads  of  the  Brave"  are 
intended  to  suit  the  real  tastes  of  boys,  and  will  suit  the  taste  of  the  great  majority.' 
—Spectator.  '  The  book  is  full  of  splendid  things.'—  World. 


History  and  Biography 

Gladstone.  THE  SPEECHES  AND  PUBLIC  ADDRESSES 
OF  THE  RT.  HON.  W.  E.  GLADSTONE,  M.P.  With  Notes 
and  Introductions.  Edited  by  A.  W.  HUTTON,  M.A.  (Librarian  of 
the  Gladstone  Library),  and  H.  T.  COHEN,  M.A.  With  Portraits. 
Svo.  Vol.  X.  I2s.  6d. 

Eussell.  THE  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  LORD  COLLING- 
WOOD.  By  W.  CLARK  RUSSELL,  Author  of  <  The  Wreck  of  the 
Grosvenor.'  With  Illustrations  by  F.  BRANGWYN.  8vo.  15*. 

'  A  really  good  book.' — Saturday  Review. 

1 A  most  excellent  and  wholesome  book,  which  we  should  like  to  see  in  the  hands  of 
every  boy  in  the  country.' — St.  James's  Gazette. 

Clark.  THE  COLLEGES  OF  OXFORD  :  Their  History  and 
their  Traditions.  By  Members  of  the  University.  Edited  by  A. 
CLARK,  M.A.,  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  Lincoln  College.  Svo.  I2.r.  6rf. 

'  Whether  the  reader  approaches  the  book  as  a  patriotic  member  of  a  college,  as  an 
antiquary,  or  as  a  student  of  the  organic  growth  of  college  foundation,  it  will  amply 
reward  his  attention.1—  Times. 

1 A  delightful  book,  learned  and  lively.' — Academy. 

4  A  work  which  will  certainly  be  appealed  to  for  many  years  as  the  standard  book  oa 
the  Colleges  of  Oxford.' — Athenccum. 

Hulton.  RIXAE  OXONIENSES  :  An  Account  of  the  Battles 
of  the  Nations,  The  Struggle  between  Town  and  Gown,  etc.  By 
S.  F.  HULTON,  M.A.  Crown  8vo.  $s. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  9 

James.  CURIOSITIES  OF  CHRISTIAN  HISTORY  PRIOR 
TO  THE  REFORMATION.  By  CROAKE  JAMES,  Author  of 
4  Curiosities  of  Law  and  Lawyers.'  Crown  %vo.  *js.  6d. 

Perrens.  THE  HISTORY  OF  FLORENCE  FROM  THE 
TIME  OF  THE  MEDICIS  TO  THE  FALL  OF  THE 
REPUBLIC.  By  F.  T.  PERRENS.  Translated  by  HANNAH 
LYNCH.  In  three  volumes.  Vol.  I.  Svo.  i2s.  6d. 

This  is  a  translation  from  the  French  of  the  best  history  of  Florence  in  existence. 
This  volume  covers  a  period  of  profound  interest— political  and  literary— and 
is  written  with  great  vivacity. 

*  This  is  a  standard  book  by  an  honest  and  intelligent  historian,  who  has  deserved 
well  of  his  countrymen,  and  of  all  who  are  interested  in  Italian  history.' — Man- 
chester Guardian. 

Kaufmann.      CHARLES    KINGSLEY.     By  M.   KAUFMANN, 

M.A.     Crown  8vo.     $s. 

A  biography  of  Kingsley,  especially  dealing  with  his  achievements  in  social  reform. 
'  The  author  has  certainly  gone  about  his  work  with  conscientiousness  and  industry.' — 
Sheffield  Daily  Telegraph. 

Lock.  THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  KEBLE.  By  WALTER  LOCK, 
M.A.,  Fellow  of  Magdalen,  Subwarden  of  Keble,  Oxford.  With 
Portrait.  Fourth  Edition.  Crown  8vo.  Buckram^  $s. 

'This  modest,  but  thorough,  careful,  and  appreciative  biography  goes  very  far  to 
supply  what  has  been  wanted.  It  is  high  but  well-deserved  praise  to  say  that  the 
tone  and  tenor  of  the  memoir  are  thoroughly  in  harmony  with  the  character  and 
disposition  of  Keble  himself.  .  .  .  All  Churchmen  must  be  indebted  to  Mr.  Lock 
for  this  admirable  memoir,  which  enables  us  to  know  a  good  and  great  churchman 
better  than  before ;  and  the  memoir,  which  to  be  appreciated  must  be  carefully 
read,  makes  one  think  Mr.  Keble  a  better  and  greater  man  than  ever.' — Guardian. 

Hutton.  CARDINAL  MANNING  :  A  Biography.  By  A.  W. 
HUTTON,  M.A.  With  Portrait.  Crown  8vo.  6s.  Cheap  Edition, 
2s.  6d. 

Wells.    THE  TEACHING  OF  HISTORY  IN  SCHOOLS.    A 

Lecture  delivered  at  the  University  Extension  Meeting  in  Oxford, 
Aug.  6th,  1892.  By  J.  WELLS,  M. A.,  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  Wadham 
College,  and  Editor  of  '  Oxford  and  Oxford  Life.'  Crown  $vo.  6d. 

Pollard.  THE  JESUITS  IN  POLAND.  By  A.  F.  POLLARD, 
B.A.  Oxford  Prize  Essays — The  Lothian  Prize  Essay  1892.  Crown 
Svo.  2s.  6d.  net. 

Clifford.     THE  DESCENT  OF  CHARLOTTE  COMPTON 

(BARONESS  FERRERS  DE  CHARTLEY).    By  her  Great-Granddaughter, 
ISABELLA  G.  C.  CLIFFORD.    Small j^to.     los.  6d.  net. 
A  2 


io  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 


General  Literature 

Bowden.  THE  IMITATION  OF  BUDDHA:  Being  Quota- 
tions from  Buddhist  Literature  for  each  Day  in  the  Year.  Compiled 
by  E.  M.  BOWDEN.  With  Preface  by  Sir  EDWIN  ARNOLD.  Second 
Edition.  i6mo.  2s.  6d. 

Ditchfield.     OUR  ENGLISH  VILLAGES  :  Their  Story  and 
their  Antiquities.     By  P.  H.  DITCHFIELD,  M.A.,  F.R.H.S.,  Rector 
of  Barkham,  Berks.     Post  8vo.     2s.  6d.     Illustrated. 
1  An  extremely  amusing  and  interesting  little  book,  which  should  find  a  place  irt 
every  parochial  library.' — Guardian. 

Ditchfield.  OLD  ENGLISH  SPORTS.  By  P.  H.  DITCH- 
FIELD,  M.A.  Crown  8vo.  2s.  6d.  Illustrated. 

*  A  charming  account  of  old  English  Sports.'—  Morning  Post. 

Burne.  PARSON  AND  PEASANT:  Chapters  of  their 
Natural  History.  By  J.  B.  BURNE,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Wasing. 

Crown  8vo.     $s. 

*  "  Parson  and  Peasant "  is  a  book  not  only  to  be  interested  in,  but  to  learn  something 

from — a  book  which  may  prove  a  help  to  many  a  clergyman,  and  broaden  the 
hearts  and  ripen  the  charity  of  laymen.' — Derby  Mercury. 

Massee.    A  MONOGRAPH  OF  THE  MYXOGASTRES.    By 

GEORGE  MASSEE.     With  12  Coloured  Plates.     Royal  %vo.     i8s.  net. 
This  is  the  only  work  in  English  on  this  important  group.     It  contains  12  Coloured 

Plates,  produced  in  the  finest  style  of  chromo-lithography. 
'  Supplies  a  want  acutely  felt.     Its  merits  are  of  a  high  order,  and  it  is  one  of  the 

most  important  contributions  to  systematic  natural   science  which  have  lately 

appeared. ' —  Westminster  Review. 
'  A  work  much  in  advance  of  any  book  in  the  language  treating  of  this  group  of 

organisms.      It   is  indispensable  to  every  student   of  the   Mxyogastres.     The 

coloured  plates  deserve  high  praise  for  their  accuracy  and  execution.' — Nature. 

Cunningham.      THE    PATH   TOWARDS    KNOWLEDGE: 
Essays  on  Questions  of  the  Day.      By  W.   CUNNINGHAM,  D.D., 
Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  Professor  of  Economics  at 
King's  College,  London.     Crown  %vo.     45.  6d. 
Essays  on  Marriage  and  Population,  Socialism,  Money,  Education,  Positivism,  etc. 

PROFIT  SHARING  AND  THE  LABOUR  QUESTION. 
By  T.  W.  BUSHILL,  a  Profit  Sharing  Employer.  With  an  Introduc- 
tion by  SEDLEY  TAYLOR,  Author  of  '  Profit  Sharing  between  Capital 
and  Labour.*  Crown  &vo.  2s.  6d. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  n 

Anderson  Graham.  NATURE  IN  BOOKS  :  Studies  in  Literary 
Biography.  By  P.  ANDERSON  GRAHAM.  Crown  Svo.  6s. 

The  chapters  are  entitled  :  I.  '  The  Magic  of  the  Fields  '  (Jefferies).  II.  '  Art  and 
Nature'  (Tennyson).  III.  'The  Doctrine  of  Idleness' (Thoreau).  IV.  'The 
Romance  of  Life '  (Scott).  V.  '  The  Poetry  of  Toil '  (Burns).  VI.  '  The  Divinity 
of  Nature '  (Wordsworth). 

Wells.  OXFORD  AND  OXFORD  LIFE.  By  Members  of 
the  University.  Edited  by  J.  WELLS,  M.A.,  Fellow  and  Tutor  of 
Wadham  College.  Crown  Svo.  3^.  6d. 

This  work  contains  an  account  of  life  at  Oxford— intellectual,  social,  and  religious— 
a  careful  estimate  of  necessary  expenses,  a  review  of  recent  changes,  a  statement 
of  the  present  position  of  the  University,  and  chapters  on  Women's  Education, 
aids  to  study,  and  University  Extension. 

'  We  congratulate  Mr.  Wells  on  the  production  of  a  readable  and  intelligent  account 
of  Oxford  as  it  is  at  the  present  time,  written  by  persons  who  are,  with  hardly  an 
exception,  possessed  of  a  close  acquaintance  with  the  system  and  life  of  the 
University.' — A  thenaum. 

Driver.  SERMONS  ON  SUBJECTS  CONNECTED  WITH 
THE  OLD  TESTAMENT.  By  S.  R.  DRIVER,  D.D.,  Canon  of 
Christ  Church,  Regius  Professor  of  Hebrew  in  the  University  of 
Oxford.  Crown  8vo.  6s. 

An  important  volume  of  sermons  on  Old  Testament  Criticism  preached  before  the 
University  by  the  author  of  'An  Introduction  to  the  Literature  of  the  Old 
Testament.' 

*  A  welcome  volume  to  the  author's  famous  '  Introduction.'  No  man  can  read  these 
discourses  without  feeling  that  Dr.  Driver  is  fully  alive  to  the  deeper  teaching  of 
the  Old  Testament.'— Guardian. 


WORKS  BY  S.  Baring  Gould. 

Author  of  '  Mehalah,'  etc. 

OLD  COUNTRY  LIFE.  With  Sixty-seven  Illustrations  by 
W.  PARKINSON,  F.  D.  BEDFORD,  and  F.  MASEY.  Large  Crown 
Svo,  doth  super  extra,  top  edge  gilt,  los.  6d.  Fourth  and  Cheaper 
Edition.  6s.  [Ready. 

' "  Old  Country  Life,"  as  healthy  wholesome  reading,  full  of  breezy  life  and  move- 
ment, full  of  quaint  stories  vigorously  told,  will  not  be  excelled  by  any  book 
to  be  published  throughout  the  year.  Sound,  hearty,  and  English  to  the  core.'— 
World. 


12  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

HISTORIC  ODDITIES  AND  STRANGE  EVENTS.     Third 

Edition,  Crown  8vo.    6s. 

'  A  collection  of  exciting  and  entertaining  chapters.  The  whole  volume  is  delightful 
reading. ' —  Times. 

FREAKS  OF  FANATICISM.      (First  published  as  Historic 

Oddities,   Second  Series.)      Third  Edition.     Crown  Sv0.     6s. 
'  Mr.  Baring  Gould  has  a  keen  eye  for  colour  and  effect,  and  the  subjects  he  has 
chosen  give  ample  scope  to  his  descriptive  and  analytic  faculties.     A  perfectly 
fascinating  book.' — Scottish  Leader. 

SONGS  OF  THE  WEST:  Traditional  Ballads  and  Songs  of 
the  West  of  England,  with  tlieir  Traditional  Melodies.  Collected 
by  S.  BARING  GOULD,  M.A.,  and  H.  FLEETWOOD  SHEPPARD, 
M.A.  Arranged  for  Voice  and  Piano.  In  4  Parts  (containing  25 
Songs  each),  Parts  /.,  //.,  ///.,  3*.  each.  Part  IV.,  $s.  In  one 
Vol.,  roan,  15.?. 

'A  rich  and  varied  collection  of  humour,  pathos,  grace,  and  poetic  fancy.' — Saturday 
Review. 

YORKSHIRE     ODDITIES     AND     STRANGE    EVENTS. 

Fourth  Edition.     Crown  $vo.    6s. 

SURVIVALS  AND  SUPERSTITIONS.  With  Illustrations. 
By  S.  BARING  GOULD.  Crown  8vo.  7s.  6d. 

A  book  on  such  subjects  as  Foundations,  Gables,  Holes,  Gallows,  Raising  the  Hat, 
Old  Ballads,  etc.  etc.  It  traces  in  a  most  interesting  manner  their  origin 
and  history. 

'  We  have  read  Mr.  Baring  Gould's  book  from  beginning  to  end.  It  is  full  of 
quaint  and  various  information,  and  there  is  not  a  dull  page  in  it.' — Notes  and 
Queries. 

THE  TRAGEDY   OF   THE   CAESARS:   The 

Emperors  of  the  Julian  and  Claudian  Lines.  With  numerous  Illus- 
trations from  Busts,  Gems,  Cameos,  etc.  By  S.  BARING  GOULD, 
Author  of  '  Mehalah,'  etc.  2  vols.  Royal  Svo.  30*. 

This  book  is  the  only  one  in  English  which  deals  with  the  personal  history  of  the 
Caesars,  and  Mr.  Baring  Gould  has  found  a  subject  which,  for  picturesque  detail 
and  sombre  interest,  is  not  rivalled  by  any  work  of  fiction.  The  volumes  are 
copiously  illustrated. 

'  A  most  splendid  and  fascinating  book  on  a  subject  of  undying  interest.  The  great 
feature  of  the  book  is  the  use  the  author  has  made  of  the  existing  portraits  of  the 
Caesars,  and  the  admirable  critical  subtlety  he  has  exhibited  in  dealing  with  this 
line  of  research.  It  is  brilliantly  written,  and  the  illustrations  ore  supplied  on  a 
scale  of  profuse  magnificence.' — Daily  Chronicle. 

*  The  volumes  will  in  no  sense  disappoint  the  general  reader.  Indeed,  in  their  way, 
there  is  nothing  in  any  sense  so  good  in  English.  .  .  Mr.  Baring  Gould  has 
most  diligently  read  his  authorities  and  presented  his  narrative  in  such  a  way  as 
not  to  make  one  dull  page.' — Athenceum. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  13 

JACQUETTA,  and  other  Stories.    Crown  ST//I.    3.?.  6<t. 

ARM  I  NELL  :  A  Social  Romance.     New  Edition.     Crown  Svo. 
3s.  6d. 

'To  say  that  a  book  is  by  the  author  of  "  Mehalah"  is  to  imply  that  it  contains  a 
story  cast  on  strong  lines,  containing  dramatic  possibilities,  vivid  and  sympathetic 
descriptions  of  Nature,  and  a  wealth  of  ingenious  imagery.  All  these  expecta- 
tions are  justified  by  "  Arminell."  ' — Speaker. 

URITH:  A  Story  of  Dartmoor.   Third  Edition.  CrownZvo.  3s.6d. 

'  The  author  is  at  his  best.' — Times. 

'  He  has  nearly  reached  the  high  water-mark  of  "  Mehalah."  '—National  Observer. 

MARGERY  OF  QUETHER,  and  other  Stories.    Crown  %vo. 
35.  6d. 

IN  THE  ROAR  OF  THE  SEA  :  A  Tale  of  the  Cornish  Coast. 

New  Edition.     6s. 

Fiction 

Author  of  ' Indian  Idylls.'    IN  TENT  AND  BUNGALOW: 

Stories  of  Indian  Sport  and  Society.      By  the  Author  of  *  Indian 
Idylls.'     Crown  Svo.     $s.  6d. 

Fenn.    A  DOUBLE  KNOT.    By  G.  MANVILLE  FENN,  Author 
of  *  The  Vicar's  People,'  etc.     Crown  &vo.     3^.  6d. 

Pryce.    THE  QUIET  MRS.  FLEMING.    By  RICHARD  PRYCE, 

Author  of  'Miss  Maxwell's  Affections,'  etc.     Crown  Svo.     $s.  6d. 
Picture  Boards^  2s. 

Pryce.     TIME  AND  THE  WOMAN.    By  RICHARD  PRYCE, 

Author  of  *  Miss  Maxwell's  Affections,'  'The  Quiet  Mrs.  Fleming,' 
etc.     New  and  Cheaper  Edition.     Crown  Svo.     6s. 

Mr.  Pryce's  work  recalls  the  style  of  Octave  Feuillet,  by  its  clearness,  conciseness, 
its  literary  reserve. — Athenteum. 

Gray.  ELSA.  A  Novel.   ByE.  M'QUEEN  GRAY.   CrownKvo.  6s. 

'  A  charming  novel.  The  characters  are  not  only  powerful  sketches,  but  minutely 
and  carefully  finished  portraits.' — Guardian. 

Gray.       MY    STEWARDSHIP.      By    E.    M'QUEEN    GRAY. 

Crown  Svo.     3^.  6d. 


14  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

Cobban.    A  REVEREND  GENTLEMAN.    By  J.  MACLAREN 

COBBAN,  Author  of  '  Master  of  his  Fate/  etc.     Crown  8vo.     2s.  6d. 
Picture  boards,  2s. 

'  The  best  work  Mr.  Cobban  has  yet  achieved.     The  Rev.  W.  Merrydew  is  a  brilliant 

creation.' — National  Observer. 
'One  of  the  subtlest  studies  of  character  outside  Meredith.' — Star. 

Lyall.  DERRICK  VAUGHAN,  NOVELIST.  By  EDNA 
LYALL,  Author  of  'Donovan.'  Crown  8vo.  31^  Thousand. 
3*.  6d.  ;  paper,  is. 

Lynn  Linton.  THE  TRUE  HISTORY  OF  JOSHUA  DAVID- 
SON, Christian  and  Communist.  By  E.  LYNN  LINTON.  Eleventh 
and  Cheaper  Edition.  Post  8vo.  is. 

Grey.     THE    STORY    OF    CHRIS.     By   ROWLAND    GREY, 

Author  of  '  Lindenblumen,'  etc.     Crown  8vo.     $s. 

Dicker.    A  CAVALIER'S  LADYE.    By  CONSTANCE  DICKER. 

With  Illustrations.     Crown  Svo.     $s.  6d. 

Author  of  'Vera.'     THE  DANCE  OF  THE  HOURS.     By 

the  Author  of  '  Vera,'  '  Blue  Roses,'  etc.     Crown  8vo.     6s. 
'A  musician's  dream,  pathetically  broken  off  at  the  hour  of  its  realisation,  is  vividly 
represented  in  this  book.  .  .  .  Well  written  and  possessing  many  elements  of 
interest.     The  success  of  "  The  Dance  of  the  Hours"  may  be  safely  predicted.' — 
Morning  Post. 

Norris.    A  Deplorable  Affair.     By  W.  E.   NORRIS,  Author  of 

'  His  Grace. '     Crown  8vo.     $s.  6d. 

'What  with  its  interesting  story,  its  graceful  manner,  and  its  perpetual  good 
humour,  the  book  is  as  enjoyable  as  any  that  has  come  from  its  author's  pen.' — 
Scotsman. 

Dickinson.     A  VICAR'S  WIFE.     By   EVELYN    DICKINSON. 

Crown  &vo.     35.  6d. 

Prowse.    THE  POISON  OF  ASPS.     By  R.  ORTON  PROWSE. 

Crown  8v0.     35.  6d. 

Parker.      PIERRE    AND    HIS    PEOPLE.      By    GILBERT 

PARKER.     Crown  %vo.     Buckram.      6s. 

*  Stories  happily  conceived  and  finely  executed.  There  is  strength  and  genius  in  Mr. 
Parker's  style.'— Daily  Telegraph. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  15 

Marriott  Watson.  DIOGENES  OF  LONDON  and  other 
Sketches.  By  H.  B.  MARRIOTT  WATSON,  Author  of  'The  Web 
of  the  Spider.'  Crown  %vo.  Buckram.  6s. 

'Mr.  Watson's  merits  are  unmistakable  and  irresistible.1 — Star. 

'  A  clever  book  and  an  interesting  one.' — St.  James's  Gazette. 

Clark  Russell.  MY  DANISH  SWEETHEART.   By  W.CLARK 

RUSSELL,  Author  of  '  The  Wreck  of  the  Grosvenor,'  *  A  Marriage  at 
Sea, 'etc.     With  6  Illustrations  by  W.  H.  OVEREND.    Crown^vo.  6s. 
'  The  book  is  one  of  the  author's  best  and  breeziest.' — Scotsman. 

Bliss.     A    MODERN    ROMANCE.      By    LAURENCE    BLISS. 

Crown  $vo.     Biickram.     3^.  6d.     Paper.     2s.  6d. 
f  Shows  much  promise.  .  .  .  Excellent  of  dialogue.' — Athencenm. 


Novel    Series 


3/6 


MESSRS.  METHUEN  will  issue  from  time  to  time  a  Series 
of  copyright  Novels,  by  well-known  Authors,  handsomely 
bound,  at  the  above  popular  price  of  three  shillings  and  six- 
pence. The  first  volumes  (ready)  are  : — 

1.  THE  PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN.    By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 

2.  JACQUETTA.   By  S.  BARING  GOULD,  Author  of  *  Mehalah,' 

etc. 

3.  MY  LAND  OF  BEULAH.    By  Mrs.  LEITH  ADAMS  (Mrs. 

De  Courcy  Laffan). 

4.  ELI'S  CHILDREN.    By  G.  MANVILLE  FENN. 

5.  ARMINELL :  A  Social  Romance.    By  S.  BARING  GOULD, 

Author  of  *  Mehalah,'  etc. 

6.  DERRICK  VAUGHAN,   NOVELIST.     With  Portrait  of 

Author.     By  EDNA  LYALL,  Author  of  'Donovan,'  etc.     Also 
paper,  is. 

7.  DISENCHANTMENT.     By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 

8.  DISARMED.    By  M.  BETHAM  EDWARDS. 

9.  JACK'S  FATHER.     By  W.  E.  NORRIS. 

10.  MARGERY  OF  QUETHER.     By  S.  BARING  GOULD. 
IT.  A  LOST  ILLUSION.    By  LESLIE  KEITH. 


16  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

12.  A  MARRIAGE  AT  SEA.    By  W.  CLARK  RUSSELL. 

13.  MR.  BUTLER'S  WARD.    By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 

14.  URITH.    By  S.  BARING  GOULD. 

15.  HOVENDEN,  V.C.    By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 

Other  Volumes  will  be  announced  in  due  course. 

NEW   TWO-SHILLING    EDITIONS  - 

Crown  8vo,  Ornamental  Boards.  ^ 

ARMINELL.     By  the  Author  of  *  Mehalah.' 
ELI'S  CHILDREN.    By  G.  MANVILLE  FENN. 
DISENCHANTMENT.    By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 
THE  PLAN  OF  CAMPAIGN.    By  F.  MABEL  ROBINSON. 
JACQUETTA.     By  the  Author  of  <  Mehalah.' 


Picture  Boards. 

THE  QUIET  MRS.  FLEMING.    By  RICHARD  PRYCE. 
JACK'S  FATHER.     By  W.  E.  NORRIS. 
MR.  BUTLER'S  WARD.    By  MABEL  ROBINSON. 
A  REVEREND  GENTLEMEN.     By  J.  MACLAREN  COBBAN. 

Books  for  Boys  and  Girls 

Cuthell.  ONLY  A  GUARD-ROOM  DOG.  By  Mrs.  CUTHELL. 
With  1 6  Illustrations  by  W.  PARKINSON.  Square  Crown  Sv0.  6s. 

1  This  is  a  charming  story.  Tangle  was  but  a  little  mongrel  Sky  terrier,  but  he  had  a 
big  heart  in  his  little  body,  and  played  a  hero's  part  more  than  once.  The  book 
can  be  warmly  recommended.' — Standard. 

CoUingwood.  THE  DOCTOR  OF  THE  JULIET.  By  HARRY 
COLLINGWOOD,  Author  of  'The  Pirate  Island/  etc.  Illustrated  by 
GORDON  BROWNE.  Crown  Svo.  6s. 

1  "The  Doctor  of  the  Juliet,"  well  illustrated  by  Gordon  Browne,  is  one  of  Harry 
Colling  wood's  best  efforts.' — Morning  Post. 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  17 

Walford.  A  PINCH  OF  EXPERIENCE.  By  L.  B.  WAL- 
FORD,  Author  of  *  Mr.  Smith.'  With  Illustrations  by  GORDON 
BROWNE.  Crown  8vo.  6s. 

f  The  clever  authoress  steers  clear  of  namby-pamby,  and  invests  her  moral  with  a 
fresh  and  striking  dress.  There  is  terseness  and  vivacity  of  style,  and  the  illustra- 
tions are  admhable.' — Anti-Jacobin. 

Moleswortli.  THE  RED  GRANGE.  By  Mrs.  MOLESWORTH, 
Author  of  '  Carrots. '  With  Illustrations  by  GORDON  BROWNE. 
Crown  %vo.  6s. 

'A  volume  in  which  girls  will  delight,  and  beautifully  illustrated.' — Pall  Mall 
Gazette. 

Clark  Russell.  MASTER  ROCKAFELLAR'S  VOYAGE.  By 
W.  CLARK  RUSSELL,  Author  of  '  The  Wreck  of  the  Grosvenor,'  etc. 
Illustrated  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  Crown  8vo.  3^.  6</. 

'Mr.  Clark  Russell's  story  of  "Master  Rockafellar's  Voyage"  will  be  among  the 
favourites  of  the  Christmas  books.  There  is  a  rattle  and  "  go"  all  through  it,  and 
its  illustrations  are  charming  in  themselves,  and  very  much  above  the  average  in 
the  way  in  which  they  are  produced.' — Guardian. 

Author  of  *  Mdle.  Mori.3    THE  SECRET  OF  MADAME  DE 

Monluc.     By  the  Author  of  'The  Atelier  du  Lys,'  '  Mdle.  Mori/ 
Crown  8vo.     $s. 
'  An  exquisite  literary  cameo.' — World. 

Manville  Fenn.  SYD  BELTON  :  Or,  The  Boy  who  would  not 
go  to  Sea.  By  G.  MANVILLE  FENN,  Author  of  *  In  the  King's 
Name,'  etc.  Illustrated  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  Crown  Kvo.  -$s.  6d. 

*  Who  among  the  young  story-reading  public  will  not  rejoice  at  the  sight  of  the  old 
combination,  so  often  proved  admirable— a  story  by  Manville  Fenn,  illustrated 
by  Gordon  Browne  ?  The  story,  too,  is  one  of  the  good  old  sort,  full  of  life  and 
vigour,  breeziness  and  fun.'— Joiwnal  of  Education. 

Parr.  DUMPS.  By  Mrs.  PARR,  Author  of  '  Adam  and  Eve,' 
'  Dorothy  Fox,'  etc.  Illustrated  by  W.  PARKINSON.  Crown  Svo. 
35.  6d. 

'  One  of  the  prettiest  stories  which  even  this  clever  writer  has  given  the  world  for  a 
long  time.' — World. 

Meade.  OUT  OF  THE  FASHION.  By  L.  T.  MEADE,  Author 
of  'A  Girl  of  the  People,'  etc.  With  6  Illustrations  by  W.  PAGET. 
Crown  Sv0.  6s. 

'One  of  those  charmingly- written  social  tales,  which  this  writer  knows  so  well  how  to 
write.  It  is  delightful  reading,  and  is  well  illustrated  by  W.  Paget.' — Glasgow 
Herald. 


1 8  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

Meade.  A  GIRL  OF  THE  PEOPLE.  By  L.  T.  MEADE, 
Author  of  *  Scamp  and  I, 'etc.  Illustrated  by  R.  BARNES.  Crown 
8v0.  %s.  6d. 

'An  excellent  story.  Vivid  portraiture  of  character,  and  broad  and  wholesome 
lessons  about  life.' — Spectator. 

'One  of  Mrs.  Meade's  most  fascinating  books.' — Daily  News. 

Meade.     HEPSY  GIPSY.    By  L.  T.  MEADE.      Illustrated  by 

EVERARD  HOPKINS.       CrOWIl  %VO,  2.S.   6d. 
'Mrs.  Meade  has  not  often  done  better  work  than  this.' — Spectator. 

Meade.  THE  HONOURABLE  MISS  :  A  Tale  of  a  Country 
Town.  By  L.  T.  MEADE,  Author  of  '  Scamp  and  I,'  «  A  Girl  of  the 
People,'  etc.  With  Illustrations  by  EVERARD  HOPKINS.  Crown 
Svot  2s'  ^d. 

Adams.  MY  LAND  OF  BEULAH.  By  MRS.  LEITH  ADAMS. 
With  a  Frontispiece  by  GORDON  BROWNE.  Crown  8vo,  $s.  6d. 

Leaders  of  Religion 

Edited  by  H.  C.  BEECHING,  M.  A.     With  Portrait,  crown  Svo,  2s.  6d. 

A  series  of  short  biographies,  free  from  party  bias,  of  the 
most  prominent  leaders  of  religious  life  and  thought. 
The  following  are  ready — 


CARDINAL  NEWMAN.     By  R.  H.  HUTTON. 


2/6 

'  Few  who  read  this  book  will  fail  to  be  struck  by  the  wonderful  insight  it  displays 
into  the  nature  of  the  Cardinal's  genius  and  the  spirit  of  his  life.'— WILFRID 
WARD,  in  the  Tablet. 

'Full  of  knowledge,  excellent  in  method,  and  intelligent  in  criticism.  We  regard  it 
as  wholly  admirable.' — Academy. 

JOHN  WESLEY.    By  J.  H.  OVERTON,  M.A. 

'  It  is  well  done  :  the  story  is  clearly  told,  proportion  is  duly  observed,  and  there  is 
no  lack  either  of  discrimination  or  of  sympathy.' — Manchester  Guardian. 

BISHOP  WILBERFORCE.    By  G.  W.  DANIEL,  M.A. 
CHARLES  SIMEON.    By  H.  C.  G.  MOULE,  M.A. 
CARDINAL  MANNING.    By  A.  W.  HUTTON,  M.A. 
Other  volumes  will  be  announced  in  due  course. 


2J6 


MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST  19 

University    Extension    Series 

A  series  of  books  on  historical,  literary,  and  scientific  subjects,  suitable 
for  extension  students  and  home  reading  circles.  Each  volume  will  be 
complete  in  itself,  and  the  subjects  will  be  treated  by  competent  writers 
in  a  broad  and  philosophic  spirit. 

Edited  byj.  E.  SYMES,  M.A., 
Principal  of  University  College,  Nottingham. 

Crown  8v0.     2s.  6d. 
The  following  volumes  are  ready : — 
THE  INDUSTRIAL  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.     By  H.  DE 
B.  GIBBINS,  M.A.,  late  Scholar  of  Wadham  College,  Oxon.,  Cobden 
Prizeman.     Second  Edition.     With  Maps  and  Plans.  [Ready. 

A  compact  and  clear  story  of  our  industrial  development.  A  study  of  this  concise 
but  luminous  book  cannot  fail  to  give  the  reader  a  clear  insight  into  the  principal 
phenomena  of  our  industrial  history.  The  editor  and  publishers  are  to  be  congra- 
tulated on  this  first  volume  of  their  venture,  and  we  shall  look  with  expectant 
interest  for  the  succeeding  volumes  of  the  series.' — University  Extension  Journal. 

A  HISTORY  OF  ENGLISH  POLITICAL  ECONOMY.     By 
L.  L.  PRICE,  M.A.,  Fellow  of  Oriel  College,  Oxon. 

PROBLEMS  OF   POVERTY :  An  Inquiry  into  the  Industrial 
Conditions  of  the  Poor.     By  J.  A.  HOBSON,  M.A. 

VICTORIAN  POETS.    By  A.  SHARP. 

THE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.    By  J.  E.  SYMES,  M.A. 

PSYCHOLOGY.     By  F.  S.  GRANGER,  M.A.,  Lecturer  in  Philo- 
sophy at  University  College,  Nottingham. 

THE  EVOLUTION   OF  PLANT  LIFE:  Lower  Forms.     By 
G.  MASSEE,  Kew  Gardens.     With  Illustrations. 

AIR  AND  WATER.     Professor  V.  B.  LEWES,  M.A.    Illustrated. 

THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  LIFE  AND  HEALTH.      By  C.  W. 
KIMMINS,  M.A.  Camb.     Illustrated. 

THE  MECHANICS  OF  DAILY  LIFE.    By  V.  P.  SELLS,  M.A. 

Illustrated. 
ENGLISH  SOCIAL  REFORMERS.    H.  DE  B.  GIBBINS,  M.A. 

ENGLISH    TRADE    AND    FINANCE    IN   THE   SEVEN- 
TEENTH  CENTURY.   By  W.  A.  S.  HEWINS,  B.A. 


2o  MESSRS.  METHUEN'S  LIST 

Social  Questions  of  To-day 

2/6 


Edited  by  H.  DE  B.  GIBBINS,  M.A. 
Crown  8vo.     2s.  6d. 


A  series  of  volumes  upon  those  topics  of  social,  economic, 
and  industrial  interest  that  are  at  the  present  moment  fore- 
most in  the  public  mind.  Each  volume  of  the  series  will  be  written 
by  an  author  who  is  an  acknowledged  authority  upon  the  subject 
with  which  he  deals. 

The  following  Volumes  of  the  Series  are  ready  : — 

TRADE  UNIONISM— NEW  AND  OLD.  By  G.  HOWELL, 
M.P.,  Author  of  *  The  Conflicts  of  Capital  and  Labour.' 

THE  CO-OPERATIVE  MOVEMENT  TO-DAY.  By  G.  J. 
HOLYOAKE,  Author  of  *  The  History  of  Co-operation.' 

MUTUAL  THRIFT.  By  Rev.  J.  FROME  WILKINSON,  M.A., 
Author  of  *  The  Friendly  Society  Movement. ' 

PROBLEMS  OF  POVERTY  :  An  Inquiry  into  the  Industrial 
Conditions  of  the  Poor.  By  J.  A.  HOBSON,  M.A. 

THE  COMMERCE  OF  NATIONS.  By  C.  F.  BASTABLE, 
M.A.,  Professor  of  Economics  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin. 

THE  ALIEN  INVASION.  By  W.  H.  WILKINS,  B.A.,  Secretary 
to  the  Society  for  Preventing  the  Immigration  of  Destitute  Aliens. 

THE  RURAL  EXODUS.    By  P.  ANDERSON  GRAHAM. 
LAND  NATIONALIZATION.    By  HAROLD  Cox,  B.A. 

A  SHORTER  WORKING  DAY.  By  H.  DE  B.  GIBBINS 
and  R.  A.  HADFIELD,  of  the  Ilecla  Works,  Sheffield. 

BACK  TO  THE  LAND,  being  an  inquiry  as  to  the  possible 
conditions  under  which  those  now  unemployed  can  be  provided  with 
rural  work,  with  practical  suggestions  as  to  the  means  by  which  a 
larger  number  of  persons  than  at  present  can  be  maintained  from  the 
land.  By  HAROLD  E.  MOORE,  F.S.I.,  Author  of  *  Hints  on  Land 
Improvements.'