193 BY HOOK AND BY CEOOK. 



The very name of an angling competition is enough 

 to make one's teeth jar, and what benefit is gained 

 by fighting all day against time and one another, is 

 simply incomprehensible. Many anglers have attained 

 fame in their pursuit throughout the country-side 

 without having assisted in these abominations, and it 

 is an open question whether or no the size of the bag 

 on any particular day conclusively proves superiority 

 in skill. 



When a river is fining down after a flood it often 

 happens that one of the best days is a Sunday ; but as 

 in most localities it is observed as a non-fishing day, 

 the angler must be content to kick his heels about and 

 wait. 



When one is fishing hard a rest upon every seventh 

 day is by no means unwelcome, and gives an oppor- 

 tunity for putting tackle straight or making a fly or 

 two ; but when the river has previously been out of 

 order, another day of enforced idleness is rather trying, 

 and generally results in an extraordinary consumption 

 of tobacco and other things, until, in desperation, the 

 angler seeks his bed, thankful that the sun does not 

 indulge in such an eccentricity as we read happened in 

 the olden time. 



When the water is in order, but for some reason the 

 angler cannot fish, he is pretty sure to think that sport 

 would be certain if there were no restriction ; but on 

 many occasions when the veto has been unexpectedly 

 removed the result has been disappointing, so with this 



