Chapter 6
_Dew._--If the dew lies plentifully upon the grass after a fair day, it is a sign of another; if not, and there is no wind, rain must follow. A red evening shews fine weather, but if it spread too far upwards from the horizon in the evening, and especially in the morning, it fortells wind or rain, or both. When the sky in rainy weather is tinged with sea green, the rain will increase; if with blue, it will be showery.
_Heavenly Bodies._--A haziness in the air which fades the sun light and makes the orb appear whiteish or ill defined, or at night if the moon and stars grow dim and a ring encircles the former, rain will follow. If the Sun's rays appear like Moses' horn, white at setting or shorn of his rays, or goes down into a bank of clouds in the horizon, bad weather may be expected. If the moon looks pale and dim, rain may be expected; if red, wind; and if her natural colour, with a fair clear sky, fine weather; if the moon is rainy throughout, it will clear at the change, and perhaps the rain return a few days after. If fair throughout, and rain at the change, the fair weather will probably return at the fourth or fifth day.
_Wind._--If the wind veers much about, rain is certain; in changing, if it follows the course of the sun, it brings fair weather; the contrary, foul; whistling of the wind is a sure sign of rain.
_Meteors._--The Aurora Borealis after warm days is generally succeeded by cooler air; shooting stars are supposed to indicate rain.
_Animals._--Before rain, swallows fly low; dogs grow sleepy and eat grass; waterfowl dive much; fish will not bite; flies are more than ordinary troublesome; toads crawl about; moles, ants, bees and insects are very busy; birds fly low for insects; swine, sheep and cattle are uneasy; and it is not without its effect on the human frame.
_Weather Table._--The following table, ascribed to Dr. Herschel, and revised by Dr. Adam Clark, constructed upon philosophical consideration of the sun and moon, in their several positions respecting the earth, and confirmed by experience of many years actual observation, furnishes the observer without further trouble, with the knowledge of what kind of weather may be expected to succeed, and that so near the truth, that in a very few instances will it be found to fail.
_Observation by Dr. Kirwan._--When there has been no particular storm about the time of the Spring Equinox (March 21st); if a storm arises from the east on or before that day, or if a storm from any point of the compass arise near a week after the Equinox, then in either of these cases the succeeding Summer is generally dry four times in five, but if the storm arises from the S.W. or W.S.W. on or just before the Spring Equinox, then the Summer following is generally wet five times in six.
WEATHER TABLE.
+----------------------------------------------------------+ | NEW & FULL MOON. | IN SUMMER. | +----------------------------+-----------------------------+ | If it be New or Full | | | Moon, or the Moon entering | | | into the first or | | | last quarter at 12 at noon | | | or between 12 and 2 | Very Rainy | | 2 and 4 in the Afternoon | Changeable | | 4 and 6 Evening | Fair | | 6 and 8 | Fair if wind at N West, | | | Rainy if S, or S. West | | 8 and 10 | Ditto | | 10 and 12 Night | Fair | | 12 and 2 Morning | Ditto | | 2 and 4 Morning | Cold with frequent showers | | 4 and 6 Morning | Rain | | 6 and 8 Morning | Wind and Rain | | 8 and 10 Morning | Changeable | | 10 and 12 Morning | Frequent Showers | +----------------------------+-----------------------------+
+----------------------------------------------------------+ | NEW & FULL MOON. | IN WINTER. | +----------------------------+-----------------------------+ | If it be New or Full | | | Moon, or the Moon entering | | | into the first or | | | last quarter at 12 at noon | | | or between 12 and 2 | Snow and rain | | 2 and 4 in the Afternoon | Fair and Mild | | 4 and 6 Evening | Fair | | 6 and 8 | Fair and Frosty, if wind | | | at North or N. East, Rain or| | | Snow, if South or S. West | | 8 and 10 | Ditto | | 10 and 12 Night | Fair and Frosty | | 12 and 2 Morning | Hard frost unless wind | | | South or S. West | | 2 and 4 Morning | Snow and Storm | | 4 and 6 Morning | Ditto | | 6 and 8 Morning | Stormy Weather | | 8 and 10 Morning | Cold Rain, if wind be | | | West, Snow if East | | 10 and 12 Morning | Cold with high wind | +----------------------------+-----------------------------+
NOTICES OF RARE AND CURIOUS ANGLING BOOKS.
There exists a very rare and remarkable work, "_A Book of Angling or Fishing, wherein is shewed by conference with Scriptures, the agreement between the Fisherman, Fishes, and Fishing of both natures, spirituall and temporall, by Samuel Gardner, Doctor of Divinitie._"--"I will make you fishers of men."--Matt. IV. 19. London, printed for Thomas Pinfoot, 1606.
Walton tells the honest angler that the writing of his book was the recreation of a recreation; his motto on the title page of his book was, "Simon Peter said let us go a fishing, and they said we also will go with thee"--John XXI. 3. This passage is not in all the editions of the _Complete Angler_, but was engraven on the title page of the first edition, printed in 1653.
Advertisement of Walton's angler, 1653. There is published a book of eighteenpence price, called "_The Compleat Angler, or Contemplative Man's Recreation, being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, not unworthy the perusal._"
These works may now be considered as great bibliomaniacal curiosities.
ADDENDA.
It is altogether a mistake to suppose that large flies are required for large rivers; on the contrary, with the exception of the Palmers, small hackle flies will be found to answer best, these, together with the Black, Blue and Dun Midges, (Spring and Autumn excepted), have a decided advantage in general over dubbed or hackle winged flies. In small brooks after a flood, winged flies often kill well, those with Orange, Black, Crimson, and Yellow bodies are the best. Grass Hoppers, the Cabbage Caterpillar, the Breccan or Fern Clock, will all take Trout; but as there are other natural baits to be had at the time these are in season, which I have noted, and which are more to be depended upon, I have not given any special instructions as to the use of the above. The Grass Hopper and Caterpillar are tiresome baits to fish with, and more a matter of fancy than utility; the Breccan Clock found amongst fern, fished like the May-fly is the best of the lot, and at times kills pretty well. Having made no allusion in my work to Lake or Pond Fishing, I may now observe, that four flies upon a stretcher, one yard apart from each other, are sufficient for Ponds. On Lakes, fishing from a boat, you may have six or eight, or even more flies upon a stretcher. In Lake and Pond fishing, the Palmers and large winged flies are the best, particularly when there is a good curl upon the water; but when there is no wind stirring, the small hackle or very small winged flies will, as regards Ponds, be frequently found to kill much better than larger flies, particularly in mornings and evenings during Summer. As fly fishing and trolling are the only reliable angling means and devices for taking Trout in Lakes and Ponds, I have nothing further to add, than that a good rod and sound tackle are essential requisites.
FINIS.
R. BARKER, PRINTER, BARNARD CASTLE.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS TO THE TEESDALE ANGLER.
W. S. Morritt, Esq., Rokeby Park, (2 copies.) Hon. Col. Stanley, Lartington Hall. T. Hutchinson, Esq., Eggleston Hall, (2 copies.) Captain Davison, Startforth Hall. S. Swire, Esq., Romaldkirk. T. S. Edger, Esq., Gainford. John Helmer, Esq., Romaldkirk, (2 copies.) George Sowerby, Esq., Wycliffe Hall. I. C. Cust, Esq., Barnard Castle. Thos. Helmer, Esq., Romaldkirk. R. Dent, Esq., Streatlam. W. F. Wharton, Esq., Barningham. Geo. Hutchinson, Esq., Gainford. ---- Kipling, Esq., Romaldkirk. W. Raine, Esq., Romaldkirk. H. W. Milburn, Esq., Barnard Castle. John Jefferson, Esq., Barnard Castle. Mr. Lionel Dent, Bowes. " Ward, Greta Bridge. " John Atkinson, Barnard Castle. " James Phillips, Rokeby. " G. Cruddas, Streatlam. " Elliot, Jun., Greystone Hall. " Tennick, Gainford. " Thos. Hodgson, Barnard Castle. " Crosby, Darlington. " Wetherilt, Barnard Castle. " James Tinkler, Lartington. " J. Graham, Darlington. " John White, Barnard Castle. " John Atkinson, Printer, Barnard Castle. " Wm. Heslop, Marwood. " J. Dawson, Barnard Castle. " Brotherton, Barnard Castle. " Wm. Peel, Barnard Castle. Sergeant Thos. Taylor, Barnard Castle. Sergeant Major Morris, Barnard Castle. Sergeant Mayo, Barnard Castle. Sergeant Heslop, Barnard Castle.