ECONOMICAL SPORT. 131 



declare that he is outrunning the constable ; whereas, as 

 I will presently show, it is possible to see a good deal 

 of sport in the hunting field at a comparatively moderate 

 cost. 



Shooting and fishing are no doubt economical amuse- 

 ments when they are found for you, and no juvenile 

 ever yet was considered to be a spendthrift merely 

 because he spent his time in fishing ; yet fishing is not 

 always the cheap amusement it is considered. To live on 

 the banks of a canal, and fish therein for gudgeons, is a 

 pastime reasonable enough as far as cost goes ; but then 

 a young man good for anything would find this kind of 

 thing rather wanting in excitement. To fish for anything 

 worth catching requires either money or interest. A 

 very small percentage of British youth has free permis- 

 sion at all times over decent water ; and, putting this 

 small percentage aside, it will be found that the 

 remainder have to pay something more for their sport 

 than the mere cost of tackle. To belong to an angling 

 club is not a very expensive matter in money ; but how 

 much fun is there to be had for it ? It is not the price 

 paid, but the value received, that makes an article dear 

 or cheap. Say that you begin trout fishing in March, 

 which is full early though, of course, rivers vary in 

 being early or late on a well-whipped club water you 

 will have but little fun after the middle of June, hot days 

 and clear water not being favourable to the feathery 

 impostor, as a friend of mine used to call the artificial 

 fly ; so you get but three months' fun for your outlay. 

 It may be worth the cost, but then you have no pursuit 

 for the winter and autumn months, not to mention the 

 hot days of summer. Where there are grayling, it is true 

 some fun is to be had in the autumn, but these fish are 



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