CONCLUDING REMARKS 135 



secure a certain field-gate I lost some of the best 

 brook trout-fishing I ever had. Need I say, too, 

 that geniality of manner to farmers who have 

 fishing rights is never thrown away ? A gentle- 

 man will always make himself agreeable and have 

 no reason to regret a few minutes' friendly 

 conversation with these sturdy sons of the 

 soil. 



And now for my last hint. I have given it 

 before, but as it is invaluable, and of supreme 

 importance to the brook-angler, I venture to give 

 it again, sincerely hoping that he will keep it in 

 mind under all circumstances Whatever you do, 

 keep out of sight of the fish. 



I relinquish my subject with regret. These 

 modest little fisheries grow on one, and we are 

 loth to leave the flowery meads and umbrageous 

 dells, the boulder-strewn ravines and empurpled 

 hills through which they meander. Their gentle 

 prattling speaks to us softly, telling of happy, 

 innocent hours, hours passed with all that is best 

 and purest in Nature, our joint mother, and each 

 visit but endears them more, till we regard them 

 as old friends. And when the time comes for me 

 to lay aside the rod, and reel up for ever, would 



