Voss and the Evanger River. 235 



All that an angler can hope for is that a fish will take 

 the lure ; and, if he do so, all further responsibility rests 

 with the rod-holder. He alone is answerable for the hand- 

 ling, the tackle, and the gaffing, or netting. It is no 

 excuse to say that a fish did so and so ; that the tackle 

 should not have given way, or that the gaffer should have 

 done, or should not have done, something else; for the 

 rod-holder is, or ought to be, the commander-in-chief, and 

 should mistake occur, he ought to accept the blame— on 

 account of inefficiency upon his part, of ignorance or 

 carelessness in the selection of tackle, or for not having 

 sufficiently instructed his attendant. 



This may appear a severe doctrine, but it is one that 

 I apply to myself ; and the longer I fish the more correct 

 does it seem, for seldom is it when I cannot blame myself 

 for mismanagement of a fish lost. 



