BOYHOOD IN GALLOWAY 5 



the man who can combine them falls the largest 

 share of enjoyment. But he is not the only one 

 who reaps a harvest of delight from the occupation 

 of angling. Indeed, for the worker — (let it not be 

 thought that I class the artist outside that category) 

 — the business man, who lives the greater part of his 

 life in the turmoil of a large city, for him, I say, there 

 is surely no more health-giving nor more delight- 

 ful way of spending a holiday than in devoting it 

 to angling. For in fishing, a man forgets the petty 

 worries of everyday life, and is more independent 

 of the weather than in the pursuit of any other out- 

 door sport, and he can combine the healthiest of 

 exercise with the enjoyment of the most beautiful 

 surroundings. 



Perhaps my last statement may be open to criti- 

 cism. It may be said that the fisherman is not 

 independent of the weather — that on occasions more 

 grumbling can be heard concerning the weather from 

 a party of these creatures herded together under one 

 roof, than a man might hear from a whole townful 

 of ordinary mortals. Such a remark, I fear, would 

 have a certain smack of truth in it ; I must qualify 

 my observation. I should no doubt have said that 

 in wet weather the fisherman can enjoy himself more 



