62 TROUT FISHING 



sort of letter which has a business complexion and 

 speaks of its writer's being " greatly disappointed 

 at missing you to-day " and hopes " that you will 

 be able to find it convenient " to make an appoint- 

 ment within the next two days — ^that sort of letter 

 ought to be lost in the post. It casts a gloom over 

 everything, makes you suspicious of its writer, and 

 gives you the bother of composing and sending a 

 non possumus telegram. It may even delay your 

 starting for five minutes. Of the letter which causes 

 you to return to town by the next train I will not 

 speak. I hate that letter too much. 



The only excuse for not being on the water by 

 nine is a visit to the local tackle shop if there is 

 one. Ten minutes there spent in selecting flies and 

 casts and hearing about fishing things in general are 

 by no means wasted. They serve to whet the 

 appetite, already keen, for the day that is coming, 

 especially if you receive full and particular intelli- 

 gence of certain big fish which have frustrated all 

 local efforts. About 9 a.m. on the first morning 

 you naturally have your own opinion as to local 

 efforts. They are perhaps the only local things 

 that have not that quality of perfection already 

 noted, which but makes them the better from your 

 point of view and fits them the more happily into 

 the general scheme of joyousness. 



In due course the water is reached and with the 



