98 LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



more than duly favoured by Providence, should certainly 

 fix the point in some portion of his mouth or jaw. Consider 

 then how this may best be done. I think you will agree that 

 the first and, perhaps, the only effective way is a quick but 

 light lift of the wrist. There are lovers of paradox who will 

 tell you that the way to strike is to strike down so as to make 

 the point of the rod fly up. They are vain counsellors, as 

 I think, both because it is surely only relatively to the rest 

 of the rod that the point " flies up " as they say — not relatively 

 to the line, which is the part of the apparatus which matters — 

 and also because I never, in all my fishing life, which is a 

 great deal longer than I could wish it, have seen an angler 

 strike in this downward direction ; and I have had the good 

 fortune to see many of the very best. So, this light, quick, 

 upward flick of the wrist, which is good enough for them, 

 the past-masters, may be good enough for you in your 

 novitiate. I have virtually forbidden you the use of that supple, 

 game-play ing-developed wrist of yours up to this point, 

 but now it may come in handy. At what moment, in response 

 to the rise of the fish, you should strike, whether " half- 

 volleying " or " after counting six," according to the differing 

 maxims of the two widely differing schools, is a matter for 

 consideration when your education is much farther advanced. 

 Be it enough satisfaction for you that we have you with your 

 first trout now firmly hooked and flashing through the stream 

 while the rod bends responsive to its efforts. In what happier 

 circumstances can I possibly bring this letter to its close ? 



