INTRODUCTORY 



granddaddy does. I agree, in such cases the con- 

 scientious angler is helpless, and the only thing 

 possible is to unhook the foolish youngster as 

 carefully as possible and return it to the water 

 uninjured. It would be hard to judge how many 

 times a trout gets hooked and escapes during its 

 short life, but we do know that if he is captured 

 at seventeen inches instead of seven, the differ- 

 ence is, unquestionably, advantageous to the ang- 

 ler. We are all naturally very proud to capture 

 the big fellows; the satisfaction is greater because 

 the battle is more even. Adroit cunning against 

 our skill — and to encounter such battles often, 

 the angler must curb his insatiate desire for large 

 numbers by returning to the water all but the 

 larger fish, that they may grow for him, or for the 

 other angler, to capture at a later date. This is one 

 important way to encourage the growth of fish. If 

 every angler would do so, in time conditions would 

 be such that all could capture fish of a decent 

 size that would furnish far better sport. I never 

 met or heard of a fisherman having captured one 

 or more large fish but who was, with pardonable 

 pride, most anxious to talk about them or show 

 them to friend or stranger. 

 The larger fish should be most ardently sought 



