122 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



obtained from angling may be enormously enhanced 

 by close observation of the beauties and mysteries 

 of nature. 



As for the art of angling being taught theoreti- 

 cally, although Walton's avowed object to instruct 

 the "man that was none, to be an angler by the 

 book," I doubt if his charming dialogues are of 

 any practical value as lessons in the gentle art. 

 He admits that angling may be said to be so 

 like the mathematics that it can never be fully 

 learned. With this last theory every man will 

 agree, not only as regards angling but in relation 

 to most subjects. He will learn something new 

 each day of his life. There is an enormous 

 amount of literature on sports of all kinds, litera- 

 ture ofoino- into minute details, all interestino- 

 and to a point instructive ; but, in my humble 

 opinion, experience and practice, added to a 

 natural instinct for sporting proclivities, are the 

 only means of becoming proficient in any sport. 



Now is the time, 



While yet the dark brown water aids the guile, 

 To tempt the trout, 



But let not thy hook the tortured worm 

 Convulsive twist in agonizing folds. 



(Thomson : The Seasons.) 



It is evident from these lines that Thomson was 

 not a worm fisher. He implies that it is a doubly 



