Some Fishing Pretenses 



vided that they have been always in 

 the keeping of the faithful, and care- 

 fully protected against all discredit- 

 ing incidents. In addition to all this, 

 my faculty of credence has been so cul- 

 tivated and strengthened that I yield 

 without question implicit and unques- 

 tioning belief to every fishing story — 

 provided always that it is told by a 

 fisherman of good repute, and on his 

 own responsibility. This is especially 

 a matter of loyalty and principle with 

 me, for I am not only convinced that 

 the usefulness and perhaps the per- 

 petuity of the order of Free and Ac- 

 cepted Fishermen depends upon a 

 bland and trustful credulity in the in- 

 tercourse of its members with each 

 other, but I have constantly in mind 

 the golden rule of our craft, which 



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