2 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
but few waters on which the shadow of the rod or glitter 
of the bait is not more or less familiar, and as a conse- 
quence fish are everywhere becoming more wary and 
more difficult to catch. If, therefore, we would make as 
large baskets as we used, we must “subtilise’’ more and 
more our deceptive arts, so as to keep pacewith the growth 
of fish-intelligence ; and to this end the most obvious, 
and on the whole the most important means, is to be 
sought in improving and refining to the uttermost every 
part of our fishing tackle. Other circumstances being 
equal, it may be safely asserted that the man who 
“fishes finest” will also catch most; and if we would 
ensure the presence of the greatest number of “ fish- 
diners’ we must offer them a vecherché menu. The 
most primitive cookery and the coarsest bill of fare 
will, it is true, be sufficient to attract the very lean or 
very hungry; but we want to entice also the fat 
and well-flavoured gourmand, the fellow who has just 
been breakfasting on a souchet of water-shrimps, or 
making a prolonged luncheon on that Jdonne bouche 
of the fish-epicure, the dainty and succulent little 
May-fly. 
It is with fish, in fact, very much as with ourselves : 
the more daintily a repast is served up the more we 
feel inclined to partake of it. Half-starved, or fast- 
ing, the lords, ay, and ladies too, of creation can | 
relish anything—even the ponderous, antiquated joint, 
or unprepossessing pea-soup; but when once the edge 
