1 6 FRESH WOODS. 



catch fish in such weather ; but that there is 

 good fishing in the Shobdon Water I know 

 full well, and I still hope for some future 

 opportunity of vindicating the accuracy of 

 my ancient recollections. 



It may reasonably be asked What is the 

 advantage of this record of perpetual failure ? 

 That is not for me to say. I trust it has 

 its advantages, if only as a curious contrast 

 to the perpetual success which mostly in- 

 spires angling penmen. It seems to be my 

 special mission to tell of failures. When, 

 out of the fifty-two weeks of the year, one 

 chooses one week for piscatorial exploits, and 

 that one week turns out to be the most un- 

 propitious of all the weeks of the year, is it 

 not my misfortune, rather than my fault, that 

 I am not permitted to tickle the ears and 

 make restless the arms of enthusiastic anglers 

 by telling them of abounding success ? 



