Some Fishing Pretenses 



nor to give the least comfort to those 

 who are fishermen only in their own 

 conceit, and whose coarse-handed 

 awkwardness, even with the most ap- 

 proved tackle, leads them to be in- 

 curably envious of all those who fish 

 well. 



It is not pleasant to criticise, even 

 in a mild way, anything that genuine 

 fishermen may do — especially when 

 their faults result from over-zealous 

 attachment to one of the most promi- 

 nent and attractive features of our 

 craft's pursuit. It is, therefore, a re- 

 lief to pass from the field of criticism, 

 and in the best of humor, to set 

 against the claim of exclusive merit 

 made in behalf of fly-casting for trout 

 the delights and compensations of 

 black-bass fishing. I am sure I shall 

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