IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



movement on the surface, not yet pre- 

 occupied with the cares of spawning, 

 happily awaiting fulfilment of the promise 

 of the skies. 



To pick up a couple weighing three 

 and a half and two pounds on our eight 

 mile walk to La Roche, seemed of happy 

 augury. What might we not expect from 

 the less-fished waters of the main river 

 when this uncertain tributary behaved so 

 handsomely? To every appearance, in a 

 belief that was both confident and unani- 

 mous, fortune had for once ordained that 

 our long journey was to end at the precise 

 ichthyological moment an all-wise fisher- 

 man would have chosen or contrived for 

 himself. So we foresaw it: not thus did it 

 befall. 



Such threat the clouds were holding that 

 it was almost a surprise to arrive unwetted. 

 Only was it after dunnage had been un- 

 packed, provisions stowed, blankets served 

 out, lunch disposed of and fishing stations 

 allotted, that a gentle benignant rain began 

 to dull the quiet ripple. The hours left to 

 us of so perfect an afternoon must surely 

 add a notable page of entries to the log- 

 book! 



Favourite spots were first attacked with 

 114 





