2 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 



but few waters on which the shadow of the rod or glitter 

 of the bait is not more or less familiar, and as a conse- 

 quence fish are everywhere becoming more wary and 

 more difficult to catch. If, therefore, we would make as 

 large baskets as we used, we must " subtilise" more and 

 more our deceptive arts, so as to keep pace with the growth 

 of fish-intelligence ; and to this end the most obvious, 

 and on the whole the most important means, is to be 

 sought in improving and refining to the uttermost every 

 part of our fishing tackle. Other circumstances being 

 equal, it n^ay be safely asserted that the man who 

 " fishes finest" will also catch most ; and if we would 

 ensure the presence of the greatest number of "fish- 

 diners" we must offer them a recherche menu. The 

 most primitive cookery and the coarsest bill of fare 

 will, it is true, be sufficient to attract the very lean or 

 very hungry ; but we want to entice also the fat 

 and well-flavoured gourmand, the fellow who has just 

 been breakfasting on a souchet of water-shrimps, or 

 making a prolonged luncheon on that bonne bouche 

 of the fish-epicure, the dainty and succulent little 

 May-fly. 



It is with fish, in fact, very much as with ourselves : 

 the more daintily a repast is served up the more we 

 feel inclined to partake of it. Half-starved, or fast- 

 ing, the lords, ay, and ladies too, of creation can 

 relish anything — even the ponderous, antiquated joint, 

 or unprepossessing pea-soup ; but when once the edge 



