KEEP YOUR FLY ON THE WATER. 69 



by long white grass, when we decided to give the pool 

 one last cast down from the boat as usual, putting on a 

 bright fly, with which we had been casting most of the 

 day, it being a favourite pattern. 



Our attendant on the thwart, who was a uever-say- 

 die sort as a rule, did not much encourage us with the 

 remark, " We 're defeated to-day " j nevertheless we 

 both rowed and fished the pool more carefully down 

 than ever, until we had only a few yards remaining, and 

 were drawing the line up for the last time and saying, 

 " Yes, we 're defeated/' when the welcome tug told us 

 that we had spoken perhaps too soon ; and such proved 

 to be the case, as, after about half an hour's hard and 

 quick work, 26 lb. weight of fresh-run salmon was on 

 the bank. 



By this time it was quite dark and the walk home 

 was no treat, but still we congratulated ourselves upon 

 not having "chucked it" sooner. 



The really keen angler will persevere in spite of non- 

 success, but he who is not an enthusiast cannot under- 

 stand the pleasure of good casting per se ; he has no 

 interest in the proceedings until he finds a fish on his 

 hook, when very probably he then is, so to say, all over 

 the shop ; whereas the sportsman sits tight, keeps his 

 head, and scarcely takes his eye off the fish. 



It is a great nuisance to have a friend angling with 

 one who when fish are not taking is continually saying, 

 " Come on, let's chuck it, it's not a bit of good to-day." 

 Nothing is more trying, especially when one is doing 



