Part 1

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Transcriber’s Notes

All punctuation errors repaired. Page 12--ancle is an obsolete spelling of ankle, so has been retained. The corrections listed in the Errata have been applied to the text. These are noted at the end of the book.

TROUT FLIES OF DEVON AND CORNWALL, AND WHEN AND HOW TO USE THEM.

BY G. W. SOLTAU, ESQ. LITTLE EFFORD, DEVON.

“And thus our life exempt from public haunts, “Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brook, “Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.”

LONGMAN & CO. PATERNOSTER ROW; WALLIS AND HOLDEN, EXETER; BRIGHTWELL, BARNSTAPLE; LIDDELL, BODMIN; HEARD AND SONS, TRURO; AND EDWARD NETTLETON, WHIMPLE STREET, PLYMOUTH, PRINTER TO HER MAJESTY.

1847.

_NOTE._

_It will be remarked that the Flies furnished by the makers, do not, in all cases, exhibit the same tints as those shown in the drawings; this arises from the difficulty of colouring exactly from the original Flies. I have examined the patterns manufactured by the parties referred to in p. 40, and find they correspond precisely with my own. I would therefore recommend those persons, who are in the habit of making their own flies, to procure patterns from the makers and imitate them, rather than take those in the lithographed sketch for their guide._

ERRATA.

Page 9, line 16, for _to_ apt, read _too_ apt. Page 15, line 7, for _variest_, read _veriest_. Page 20, line 10, for _aught_, read _naught_. Page 35, line 8, for _lace_, read _Laced_. Page 99, line 8, for _falshood_, read _falsehood_.

TREATISE

ON

FLY-FISHING.

I am induced to offer the following pages to the youthful aspirant after piscatory fame, from the belief, that the various treatises, which have appeared from time to time on Fly-Fishing, do not contain those minute details, which are so essential to the ready acquirement of the art, and which are generally learnt by slow degrees; either from some experienced angler, or by the accidental discovery of the noviciate.

My chief object however, is to furnish the sportsman, who for the first time is about to wet his line in the west, with a list of flies; which, for a period of twenty years, I have found the most effective, in the Rivers of Devon and Cornwall. I have no doubt, they would be equally successful in Somerset, in the smaller Rivers of Wales, and in some of the Irish Lakes; but, as I cannot vouch from personal experience, I must leave to others the task of testing their more general application.

My remarks are restricted to Fly-Fishing; partly, because I hold this to be the most skilful and pleasing of the various ways by which man secures the wily fish; and also, from the length to which this paper would extend, if I were to enlarge on the numerous other devices adopted to entrap the finny tribe.

Worms, kill-devils, salmon-roe, minnows, cock-chafers, &c. &c. &c., are to be met with in the catalogue of the fisherman’s stock in trade; and, if we extend our researches to distant climes, we find even birds are classed among the fishing implements.

The Cormorant, an aquatic bird of China, and other countries, is an excellent swimmer and diver, and also flies well. It is very voracious, and as soon as it perceives a fish in the water, it darts down with great rapidity, and clings its prey firmly, by means of saw like indentations on its feet. The fish is brought up with one foot; the other foot enables the bird to rise to the surface, and by an adroit movement, the fish is loosened from the foot and grasped in the bird’s mouth.

Le Comte, a French writer, describes the mode in which the Chinese avail themselves of this angling propensity on the part of the cormorants: “to this end,” says he, “cormorants are educated as men rear up spaniels or hawks, and one man can easily manage one hundred. The fisher carries them out into the lake, perched on the gunnel of his boat, where they continue tranquil and expecting his orders with patience. When arrived at the proper place, at the first signal given, each flies a different way to fulfil the task assigned it. It is very pleasant on this occasion, to behold with what sagacity they portion out the lake or the canal where they are upon duty. They hunt about, they plunge, they rise a hundred times to the surface, until they have at last found their prey. They then seize it with their beak by the middle, and carry it without fail to their master. When the fish is too large, they then give each other mutual assistance; one seizes it by the head, the other by the tail, and in this manner carry it to the boat together. There, the boatman stretches out one of his long oars, on which they perch, and being delivered of their burden they then fly off to pursue their sport. When they are wearied he lets them rest for a while: but they are never fed till their work is over. In this manner they supply a very plentiful table--but still their natural gluttony cannot be reclaimed even by education. They have always, when they fish, a string fastened round their throats, to prevent them from devouring their prey, as otherwise they would at once satiate themselves and discontinue the pursuit the moment they had filled their bellies.”

Local information, is at all times, most valuable to the fisherman; without it, his money is often wasted, and his patience, sorely taxed. He purchases flies, which frighten, rather than attract, the fish. A sportsman should seek instruction from every quarter, and not take for granted that the experience he has acquired in his own neighbourhood, will serve him when he roams from home. But many are too apt to rely on their own judgment; they procure flies, which are totally inapplicable to our rivers; they sally forth on a piscatory trip well provided with these monsters; they have little or no sport; are disgusted with our rivers; and seek in some distant land that amusement, which under more favorable auspices, they might have obtained in these counties. Not that our fish generally run so large, as in some parts of the kingdom--they are however very strong, and one of a half pound, will afford better sport, than one of double the weight in some of the more popular streams.

Let not the reader flatter himself, that the closest attention to the suggestions I shall shortly offer; nay, that all the information contained in the numerous books, which have been written upon this interesting subject; will, at once, enable him to supply the larder or gratify a friend; they are _only_ facilities to the acquirement of the science; practice and patience, are required in large proportion to form the expert fisherman. The days, the weeks, which he must devote to the attainment of his wishes, will not however be unprofitably passed, if he avail himself of the numerous opportunities which will offer for the study of those works of nature, with which his path will be abundantly strewed. He will find opportunities for acquiring an insight into the natural history of the finny tribe; into the natural history of the busy fly, or beauteous moth, that tempt the wily fish. The lichen and the moss--the thousand plants that line the rivers bank, or the stately trees and shapeless rocks that shade its waters; all, are subjects, which the more he contemplates, the more he will wonder and admire. And, when by practice, he finds himself an adept in the art, and looks with pleasure on his captured prey; it may suggest the fate of those, who attracted by the glittering tinsel and allured by the gaudy show, follow these dangerous snares and fall a sacrifice to the pomps and vanities of life.

The expert fisherman must be temperate in all things: the steady hand and quick eye are indispensable; the drunkard must quit our ranks,--the feverish temperament,--the blood-shot eye,--the giddy head, bespeak the peril of the man--not of the fish. The epicure must follow his boon companion;--the bloated cheek--the shortened breath--the gouty ancle, are more likely to furnish food for fish, than fish, for food. That temperance has characterised many of our best artists, is evidenced, from the extreme age that several have acquired; for it cannot have been from mere accident, or from their having originally stronger stamina than other mortals, that so many have lived to an age far exceeding the ordinary term of human existence.

Henry Jenkins, who lived to the age of 169, and who boasted when giving evidence in a court of justice, to a fact of one hundred and twenty years date, that he could dub a fly as well as any man in Yorkshire, continued angling for more than a century, after the greater number of those who were born at the same time, were mouldering in their graves.

Dr. Nowell was a most indefatigable angler, allotting a tenth part of his time to his favorite recreation, and giving a tenth part of his income and all the fish he caught to the poor. He lived to the age of 95, having neither his eyesight, hearing, or memory impaired.

Walton, lived to upwards of 90.

Henry Mackenzie, died in January, 1831, aged 86.

These and many others that might be named, were remarkable for their temperate habits: there is no doubt however, that their pursuits by the side of the running streams, whose motion imparts increased activity to the vital principle of the air; and, that composure of mind (so necessary to the perfect health of the body), to which angling so materially contributes, must also have had an influence on their physical constitutions.

We boast in our ranks, some of England’s bravest warriors, her most experienced statesmen, her best divines, and her cleverest philosophers. Our princes have substituted the rod for the sceptre, and have endeavoured to vie with their subjects in the capture of the wily trout.

George the Fourth, was much attached to this amusement, though he was not particularly successful. His fishing apparatus was of the most costly character: the case, containing the various requisites, was covered with the best crimson morocco leather; the edges, sloped with double borders of gold ornaments, representing alternately, salmon, and basket; the outer border, formed a rich gold wreath of the rose, thistle, and shamrock, intertwined by oak leaves, and acorns; the centre of the lid, presented a splendid gold impression of the Royal Arms of Great Britain and Ireland. The case was fastened with one of Bramah’s patent locks, handles, eyes, &c., all double gilt; whilst the interior was lined with the finest Genoese sky-blue velvet. The hooks for angling and fly-fishing were of the most chaste and beautiful description.

That majesty is not famed for proficiency in the art, may be partly accounted for from the circumstance, that fly-fishing is one of the few occupations which depend _entirely_ on the individual skill of the sportsman. Keepers may rise pheasants by the score, and drive hares by the dozen before the well-placed gun; offering shots which the veriest tyro cannot fail to kill: the huntsman by a judicious cast, may exhibit the hounds and their quarry, in the most accommodating proximity to the royal group--the highland deer may be driven within the limits of the rifles range--but, no keeper’s art can oblige a trout to rise; or, compel the salmon to quit its darkened haunt, even for the amusement of princes, or sport of kings. The finny tribe acknowledge no allegiance, and will not be tempted, though the fly be proffered by royal hands. Prompt obedience is expected by kings; a ready compliance with their wishes, is their behest.

Nelson, was an excellent fly-fisher; and, as a proof of his passion for it, continued the pursuit even with his left hand.

Dr. Paley, was ardently attached to this amusement, so much so, that when the Bishop of Durham enquired of him, when one of his most important works would be finished; he said, with great simplicity and good humour, “My Lord, I shall work steadily at it when the fly-fishing season is over;” as if this were a business of his life.

To the list of eminent characters who have been lovers of angling, may be added the name of Robert Burns.

Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, may be noticed as an expert angler.

Professor Wilson, is one of the best fly-fishers that ever threw a fly.

Wordsworth, is an angler, and in many of his poems may be traced images which have reference to, or have been suggested by this delightful art.

Emerson, the mathematician, was a fly-fisher.

Dr. Birch, formerly Secretary to the Royal Society, was a lover of angling; and Dr. Wollaston and Sir Humphrey Davy, are instances of men of the highest philosophic attainments, finding pleasure in the rod and line.

Chantrey, was much attached to this amusement, and prided himself on the superiority of his equipment.

A sport which is thus seen to be so universally popular, has naturally been selected as a subject upon which some of our ablest men have written many instructive and interesting pages. The first treatise in our language appeared in 1496 but the _earliest_ allusion to the art, is by Elian, who flourished in the year 225. In the fifteenth book of his History of Animals, he says, “that a fish of various color is taken in the River Austræum, between Beræa and Thessalonica.” He also describes a fly which frequents the river, which is greatly preyed on by this fish; he states, that the skilful fisherman, dresses an imitation of it on his hook, forming the body of purple coloured wool, and adding two yellow feathers of a cock’s hackle for wings.

The work which appeared in 1496, was printed by Wynkyn de Worde, and is known by the name of the “Book of St. Albans,” from its having been first printed in the monastery there in 1486. This book is a small folio of seventy-three leaves, and contains short treatises on hawking, hunting, fishing, &c. How long the latter art had been practiced in England before this publication, is not known; but the directions for dressing the twelve different kind of flies, (which even Walton, writing a hundred and fifty years later, availed himself of) are not such, as were likely to be suggested in the infancy of the art.

The treatise commences with the following expositions:--

“Solomon in his parables saith, ‘that a good spirit maketh a flourishing age;’ that is, a fair age and a long.” “If a man lack leech and medicine, he shall make three things, his leech and medicine, and he shall need never no more. The first of them is, a merry thought,--the second is, labour not outrageous,--the third is, diet measurable.”

The writer then proceeds to a comparison of angling, with hunting, hawking, and fowling, and after enumerating the inconveniences attendant on the three last, thus recounts the pleasures and advantages of angling.

“Thus me seemeth, that hunting and hawking, and also fowling, are so laborious and grievous, that none of them may perform, nor be the means to induce a man to a merry spirit; which is the cause of his long life, according unto the said parable of Solomon.

“Doubtless then it followeth that it needs must be the desport of fishing with an angle, for all other manner of fishing is laborious and grievous, often making folks full wet and cold, which many times hath been cause of great infirmities.

“But the angler may have no cold, nor no disease, nor anger, except he be the cause himself. For he may not lose at the most, but a line and a hook, of which he may have store plenty of his own making, as this simple treatise shall teach him. So then his loss is _not_ grievous, and other griefs may he not have, saving if any fish break away, after that he is taken on the hook, or else that he catch nought. _Which_ is _not_ grievous. For if he fail of one, he may not fail of another, if he doeth as this treatise teacheth; except there be naught in the water.

“And yet, at _least_ he has his wholesome walk and merry at his ease, and hath a sweet air of the sweet savour of the mead flowers that maketh him hungry. He heareth the melodious harmony of fowls. He seeth the young swans, herons, ducks, coots, and many other fowls with their broods: which seemeth to me, better than all the noise of hounds, the blast of horns, and the cry that hunters, falconers, and fowlers, can make.

“And if the angler take fish, surely then, there is no man merrier than he is in his spirit.

“Also, whoso will use the game of angling, he must rise early; which thing is profitable to man in this wise, (that is to wit) most to the health of his soul, for it shall cause him to be holy. And to the health of his body, for it shall cause him to be whole. Also to the increase of his goods, for it shall make him rich, as the old English proverb says, in this wise, ‘whoso will rise early, shall be holy, healthy, and wealthy.’

“Thus, have I proved in my intent, that the sport of angling is the very means and cause that induceth a man unto a merry spirit. Which after the said parable of Solomon, and the said doctrine of physic, maketh a flowering age and a long.

“And therefore to all you that be virtuous, genteel, and free born, I write and make this simple treatise following, by which ye may have the full craft of angling to desport you at your pleasure, to the intent that your age may be the more flower and the more longer to endure.”

From the first publication of this book to the appearance of “Walton’s Complete Angler,” there seems to have been no improvement of the original work; on the contrary, the “doers” of new editions of the book under new titles seem to have had but little skill in the art of fly-fishing, and their alterations, as Pinkerton said of Evelyn’s amendments of his work on medals, “are for the worse.”

In 1653, appeared the first edition of “Walton’s Complete Angler; or, Contemplative Man’s Recreation:” in small duodecimo, adorned with cuts of most of the fish mentioned in it. It came into the world attended with laudatory verses by several writers of the day, and had in the title page, (though Walton thought proper to omit it in future editions) this apposite motto, “Simon Peter said, I go a fishing, and they said, we also will go with thee.” John xxi. 3.

Isaac Walton, was born at Stafford, in August, 1593. He settled in London as a shopkeeper, in the Royal Exchange; and, as in the year 1624, he was fixed in a different part of the city, it is supposed, he was one of the first inhabitants of that building; and being then but twenty-three years, was perhaps one of those industrious young men whom, as we are told, the munificent founder himself, Sir Thomas Gresham, placed in the shops erected over that edifice. We next hear of him in Chancery Lane, where he carried on the trade of a linen draper. About 1643, he left London with a fortune, very far short of what would _now_ be called a competency; we are told he subsequently “lived at Stafford and elsewhere, but mostly in the families of the eminent clergymen of England, of whom he was much beloved.” He employed his time in writing several biographical works, and at the advanced age of eighty-three, (which, to use his own words) “might have procured him a writ of ease, and secured him from all further trouble in that kind,” he undertook to write the life of Dr. Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln, which was published in 1677. In 1683, when he was ninety years old, he published “Thealma and Clearchus,” a pastoral history, in smooth and easy verse. He lived but a short time after the publication of this poem; for, as Wood says, “he ended his days on the fifteenth day of December, 1683,--in the great frost at Winchester, at the house of Dr. William Hawkins, a prebendary of the church there, where he lies buried.”

The “Complete Angler” has passed through several editions; and, although the art has greatly improved since Walton’s day, its perusal will afford much information and amusement, as well to the sportsman as the general reader; for, in the words of one of the editors, “let no man imagine, that a work on such a subject, must necessarily be unentertaining, or trifling, or even uninstructive; for the contrary will most evidently appear, from a perusal of this excellent piece, which, whether we consider the elegant simplicity of the style; the ease, and unaffected humour of the dialogue; the lovely scenes which it delineates; the enchanting pastoral poetry which it contains; or, the fine morality it so sweetly inculcates; has hardly its fellow in any of the modern languages.”

These remarks are very applicable to other treatises which have appeared on the same subject, more especially those of Shaw, Scrope, and Sir H. Davie; indeed, there are few works more beautifully written than “Salmonia,” wherein the talented author thus alludes to his favorite recreation.

“The search after food, is an instinct belonging to our nature; and from the savage in his rudest and most primitive state, who destroys a piece of game, or a fish, with a club or spear--to man in the most cultivated state of society, who employs artifice, machinery, and the resources of various other animals to secure his object, the _origin_ of the pleasure is similar, and its object the same; but that kind of it requiring most art, may be said to characterise man in his highest or intellectual state; and the fisher for salmon or trout with the fly, employs not only machinery to assist his physical powers, but applies sagacity to conquer difficulties; and the pleasure derived from ingenious resources and devices, as well as from active pursuit, belongs to this amusement. _Then_ as to his philosophical tendency; it is a pursuit of moral discipline--requiring patience, forbearance and command of temper. As connected with natural science, it may be vaunted as demanding a knowledge of the habits of a considerable tribe of created beings--fishes, and the animals that they prey upon; and an acquaintance with the signs and tokens of the weather and its changes, the nature of waters and of the atmosphere. As to its poetical relations, it carries us into the most wild and beautiful scenery of nature; amongst the mountain lakes, and the clear and lovely streams that gush from the higher ranges of elevated hills--or that make their way through the cavities of calcareous strata.

“How delightful in the early spring, after the dull and tedious time of winter, when the frosts disappear, and the sunshine warms the earth and waters, to wander forth by some clear stream, to see the leaf bursting from the purple bud, or scent the odours of the bank perfumed by the violet, and enamelled, as it were, with the primrose and the daisy;--to wander upon the fresh turf below the shade of trees, whose bright blossoms are filled with the music of the bee,--and on the surface of the waters to view the gaudy flies sparkling like animated gems in the sunbeams, whilst the bright and beautiful trout is watching them from below;--to hear the twittering of the water-birds, who, alarmed at your approach, rapidly hide themselves beneath the flowers and leaves of the water-lily;--and as the season advances, to find all these objects changed for others of the same kind, but better and brighter, till the swallow and the trout contend as it were for the gaudy May fly, and till, in pursuing your amusement in the calm and balmy evening, you are serenaded by the songs of the cheerful thrush and the melodious nightingale, performing the offices of maternal love, in thickets ornamented with the rose and the woodbine.”