VALUE OF THE ^^ALMON. 17 



determined dive ; or like a l)rowii-coated old inhabitant, 

 with a long pull nnd a strong pull, low down in the 

 depths. Without discussing this point in all its aspects, 

 moral and physiological, it is enough that for a very 

 small chance of attaining the salmon-angler's delight, 

 whatever it is, there are multitudes prepared to pay and 

 suffer without asking anything whatever that is injurious 

 to other men, or to the public weal. Nor is it to the 

 purpose that there are moments — rather perhaps only 

 one moment — when the angler himself may half suspect 

 his own rationality, — the moment when, after having 

 toiled all day and caught nothing, he turns, soaked and 

 shivering, to the hut which is his home for the night, 

 seeing in his mind's eye his unsympathizing wife, his 

 unansw^ered letters, and especially his vacant chair at 

 the board of the friend whose good opinion and better 

 dinner he has recklessly forfeited. For a moment the 

 inclination seizes him to say with T(nichstone in the 

 forest, — " When I was at home, I was in a better place." 

 But it is but for a moment ; and then follows another 

 strange effect. How is it that on or near the river-side 

 everything he sees or tastes seems l^etter than are better 

 things at better places ? — bad whisky better than the 

 best claret ; braxy mutton than . the choice of Leaden- 

 hall ; the conversation of a decidedly unintellectual 

 keeper or boatman than the best mots of the best got-u]) 

 diner-out ; and the repose on the pallet of chaff or straw 

 deeper and sweeter than often visits beds of air or 

 down ? Come how it may, come it does, that the dis- 

 cussions, the jokes, the incidents of times like these, 

 the memory cherishes and gloats over through man}' 



B 



