ST. BOS WELLS. 223 



try it. Accordingly, I wrote to Lord Polwarth, and 

 received by return of post a most cordial permit which 

 lasted during the period of my stay.- I have always 

 met with the utmost politeness and kindness when I 

 have had occasion, as in this instance, to ask permission 

 for fishing from any nobleman or other proprietor. 

 Liberty to fish would be accorded much more readily 

 than it often is by the riparian owners, were it not 

 for the disgraceful fact that poachers and rowdy-fishers, 

 who carry pots of roe, poke nets, and quicklime, 

 often gain access to the best waters, and in addition to 

 harrying and spoiling the river, damage and break down 

 the fencing. The true-hearted and innocent disciples of 

 Walton suffer for their guilty brethren. I feel sure that 

 every true lover of the sport will agree that one of the 

 main objects all properly organised angling associations 

 should keep steadily in view, is the stamping out of 

 everything like illegal and unfair practices in taking fish. 

 The " honest " angler is a quiet, contemplative, orderly, 

 law-abiding, and thoughtful man — I mean thoughtful 

 in as far as the interests of others are concerned. 

 He is not the one carelessly to leave his friend the 

 farmer's gate open, after passing through himself, and 

 thus afford free ingress for the eager cattle into the good 

 man's corn. In crossing the fence or dry-stone dike he 

 is careful not to break it down. If the farmer's furrows 



* From all I know of his lordsliip's kind and generous disposition, I 

 feel pretty sure that no gentleman would be refused the like courtesy. I 

 found this water the most productive of any in the neighbourhood, and 

 I therefore took frequeiit advantage of my liberty. 



