CLEAR WATERS 



haps a little less remarkable. But any respectable 

 visitor at Towyn who wrote to him for a day's fishing 

 was granted it with the further privilege of bringing a 

 friend. If he hadn't been a fisherman, though most 

 non-fishermen don't look at it that way, the concession 

 would merely have been a piece of civility creditable 

 under the circumstances, but which cost practically 

 nothing. Here, however, was a keen sportsman 

 with two miles of excellent sewin water, when and 

 while it was in order, inviting strangers whom he had 

 never seen to come and, so to speak, share it with him 

 in the best four or five weeks. Now I know a man, 

 and a wealthy one too, who lives upon and owns six 

 miles of as fine a rapid trout river as you would find 

 anywhere. Half a dozen rods upon it every fishable 

 day of the season would do it rather good than harm. 

 He, too, is a keen fisherman. He is an old school- 

 fellow of mine, and once being in the neighbourhood 

 I lightly suggested (fortunately I got no further) to a 

 third party, who knew him well, that I should ask him 

 for a day or two's fishing. The third party roared with 

 laughter : ' Old schoolfellow ! Why, I doubt if his 

 own brother could get a day. I know his own rector 

 can't, who has fished the river all his life till this en- 

 gaging alien swooped down upon it. He might ask 

 you to dinner (which, by the way, he actually did). 

 He 's quite normal otherwise, but a day's fishing ! Not 

 much ! ' I was further warned by the strongest hint 

 from his wife, and all this is quite true. Six miles — 

 think of it ! and then have regard to this generous 

 Welsh major ! 



I always felt sorry that the major was out on the 



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