SCIENCE AND SPORT 97 



the opportunity may offer for his doing so, and 

 he again tries his luck, with but little better 

 results ; and he comes to the conclusion that his 

 acquaintance of the previous day was not truthful, 

 and had purposely misled him. Not so, however ; 

 that one particular fly with which he had all day 

 long flogged away so unremittingly had not been 

 on the water at all another, totally different, 

 had captivated the fish to the exclusion of every 

 other and it is not until he has humbly con- 

 descended to admit that he knows nothing about 

 fishing, and has taken the trouble to learn some- 

 thing regarding this very essential portion of the 

 art, that he is rewarded by success. Then, indeed, 

 a fresh and increased interest is opened to him, 

 and he begins to rise superior to the very second- 

 rate style of things which had formerly served to 

 satisfy him. Thenceforward his career as a real 

 fisherman may be reckoned ; the sport possesses 

 a threefold charm for him, and he is able to 

 realize, not only how little he knew before, but 

 how much there is for him yet to learn, and that 

 a lifetime spent by the river-side will not suffice, 

 even though his entire energies may be devoted 

 to the sport, to teach him all and everything 

 connected with fishing. It becomes more than 

 mere sport ; it is a science. 



Those who have taken no interest in them 

 have but a slight conception how very beautiful 



7 



