IN THE BEGINNING 3 



hutch. Anyhow, the confession has to be made, 

 that in the youthful angler's excitement of holding 

 rod and line "just like a grown-up fisherman 

 would ! " and in the overwhelming desire to 

 catch a fish, the ceremony of baiting the hook 

 had on that glorious occasion been overlooked ! 



The elements of angling, however, gradually 

 unfolded themselves, and, before long, daddy- 

 ruffes the great reward : at any rate bigger than 

 jack-sharps began to bite, and when struck were 

 lifted quivering to the skies. Now and again 

 a gudgeon was caught. That was all. But we 

 were getting on, and never more was the baiting 

 of the hook forgotten. 



Then, one summer evening just before bed- 

 time, a wonderful sight was seen. A big brother 

 and an angling friend, who had been for a day's 

 fishing on a preserved length of the Tern, returned 

 home, with such a basket of Trout ! That was 

 their name. Great big Trout with lovely red 

 spots and all gleaming underneath ! How fascinat- 

 ing they were ! How 1 gazed and gazed ! The 

 impression then made was lasting and that youth- 

 ful admiration for Trout has never gone from me. 

 Rather have the years deepened it. Often, both in 

 England and in South Africa, have I emptied my 

 creel and turned the contents out on to the grass, 

 just to look, and then have another look, at the 

 trout. There is a certain fishmonger's shop in 

 Bond Street, where you may see the trout swim- 

 ming about in a miniature aquarium, whose water 

 is well oxygenated. That sight has always 



