ROD AND RIVER 



so few, comparatively speaking, possess any know- 

 ledge of what may be termed the natural history 

 of the fish for which they angle, or of the flies 

 which the artificials they employ are intended to 

 represent. 



Now, many of these individuals are keen 

 enough so far as the mere sport of fishing is 

 concerned, but they are often too apathetic to 

 make any effort to acquire the little knowledge of 

 ichthyology and entomology so far as the latter 

 are connected with angling ; and so long as there 

 are fish to be caught, and the local patterns of 

 artificials are found equal to the occasion, they 

 are content. 



All this seems to me to be very lacking in 

 what may be termed the refinement of sport. A 

 master of hounds merely able to ride, and 

 ignorant of the habits and many wiles of a fox, 

 could hardly expect to be successful. He might 

 now and again kill a fox, it is true, but the credit 

 of so doing could not be due to any efforts or 

 intelligence on his part, and he would utterly fail 

 to give satisfaction to his supporters. So, in like 

 manner, a man may be an excellent shot with 

 gun or rifle, but unless the game is found for or 

 driven to him, he would, if unacquainted with the 

 habits and ways of the latter, make but a sorry 

 bag. 



Whether hunting, shooting, or fishing, the man 



