CABBAGE, AND OTHER GRUBS. 47 



" Unbiass'd, or by favour, or by spite, 

 Not dully prepossess'd, nor blindly right," 



let him try an amateur fisherman's inventions, 

 before he pass judgment on theory. Nay, 

 though he may be a most determined and 

 skilful fly-fisher, he will find that to succeed 

 with these Artificial Baits, he must use as fine 

 tackle, and bring to bear quite as much skill, 

 as in the successful use of the fly. 



He must likewise be endowed with what 

 has been called, -par excellence, the fisherman's 

 virtue — Patience ; for many deem some pa- 

 tience necessary when fish are not in the 

 humour to feed; and, perhaps, a little when 

 the gut assumes all kinds of fantastic knottings 

 and twistings, just as you are about to make a 

 noble fellow " stand and deliver ; " and, perhaps 

 too, a little when the rain begins to intrude 

 on the privacy of the pocket where snuff-box 

 and handkerchief are kept. Patience, indeed ! 

 Why, if the fish refuse to feed, so would 

 you if you wanted not food ; then what a 

 blockhead you must be to show impatience at 

 a fish, for the very thing which your own 



