THE FLOAT 119 



there be e'er a dry sound reed to be gotten, cut it 

 close to the joints, leaving two joints to every float 

 uncut, one at one end, and another at t'other, to 

 keep out the water ; it will make a good float in time 

 of need." 



Float-caps are most pleasing when cut out of quill 

 and stained a deep red, but most practical when cut 

 from a length of fine black indiarubber tubing. A foot 

 of this will last a season through. You can also 

 embellish your floats yourself if you please. A long 

 swan quill can be given a coat of Lincoln green and a 

 head of crimson with the aid of varnish stain or 

 enamel, and it is then sufficiently attractive to be the 

 companion of one's days. The true test of matrimony 

 is said to be continued ability on the part of the 

 persons involved to survey each other across the 

 breakfast-table without weariness. If you consider 

 that the angler often has to watch his float, motionless 

 " a painted ship upon a painted ocean " for hours, 

 with no intrinsic interest beyond the float and the 

 watching, you will perceive that a fair appearance has 

 its value here also. But, of course, one is best pleased 

 with one's float as it vanishes from sight, so I will not 

 seek to press the analogy too closely. Moreover, you 

 can always change your float when you get tired of it, 

 and try another with a new colour scheme. If luck 

 counts for anything, it is sometimes worth doing. 

 But there is a thing about floats which I have noticed 

 sorrowfully, and cannot explain. The one which looks 

 nicest, sits best in the water, and reveals most bites, 

 always is to be found on the line of the other man. 

 To comprehend this one must, I fancy, plumb deeper 

 depths than those of angling. 



