FLIES 147 



seize it. I remember hearing a critic say, " I 

 can't think how Claude gets all those fish. He 

 throws his line across the river ; it goes round 

 all in a heap, and when it straightens there 

 is a fish at the end." Claude knew what he 

 was about. 



Norway is not always a good school for 

 anglers. A novice will often learn much more 

 by taking a rod on a well-fished river at 

 home, where he will probably be able to 

 watch first-rate performers, and where his gillie 

 will be an expert. Here he may have to 

 puzzle out many problems for himself. Often 

 he will get little information from the ignorant 

 or uncommunicative Norwegian, and there is 

 the barrier of an unknown tongue. 



But to the angler who has learnt his craft, 

 and is not in a hurry, this is an unmitigated 

 advantage. He will be his own master, and 

 not the mere creature of a tyrannical servant. 

 The tendency of all sport is to exalt the in- 

 fluence of the professional ; but in this un- 

 sophisticated country we may still select our 

 own flies, and fish them when and where we 

 think best. 



