94 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



yesterday he brought home nine brace of 

 splendid trout. 



During our holiday we, the major and I, 

 caught one hundred and ten well-fed trout 

 and four grayling ; or, if I must needs be more 

 explicit, the major caught one hundred and 

 twelve fish in ten days, and I caught two in 

 three weeks ; but I no longer envy him. I am 

 humbly content to be regarded as " an amateur 

 angler," as piscator minor or, if you please, no 

 piscator at all. 



" I have now discovered that angling is an 

 art," as says Cotton's Piscator. "Is it not an 

 art to deceive a trout with an artificial fly ? A 

 trout ! that is more sharp-sighted than any 

 hawk you have named, and more watchful 

 and timorous than your high-mettled merlin 

 is bold ? And yet I doubt not to catch a brace 

 or two to-morrow for a friend's breakfast ; 

 doubt not, therefore, sir, but that angling is 

 an art, an art worth your learning. The question 

 is rather whether you be capable of learning it, 

 for angling is somewhat like poetry, men are to 

 be born so." 



I have had a pleasant time, and it has given 

 me pleasure to record it. If I have wearied 



