THE ANGLER AND AMBIDEXTERITY. 45 



a lucky man. You either then recommence your struggle with adverse 

 circumstances, or more probably give him up as a bad job. Use your 

 left hand and arm, if you can, and the cast becomes a perfectly simple 

 one. Every dry-fly angler, moreover, knows full well how soon constant 

 casting and drying the fly tires and cramps the wrist and arm. What 

 a relief, then, to rest your right hand and give your left a chance. 



Nature has a wonderful recuperative power, and will reassert herself 

 provided you allow her to do so. The reacquisition of normal left-hand 

 dexterity is by no means difficult ; a little assiduous practice, despite 

 the first feeling of awkwardness, will soon encourage you to persevere. 

 Practise on the lawn at a saucer, and in varying conditions of wind, 

 before the season commences ; you will not only gain additional interest 

 in your casting, but will have acquired an asset of considerable value. 



Not long ago, commenting upon what it was pleased to call the 

 " latest craze," viz., ambidexterity, an evening paper made merry over 

 the subject, and declared that there were enough awkward single-handed 

 men in the world without seeking to add an army of still more 

 awkward double-handed men. Such chaff may provoke a passing smile, 

 but no chaff will ever detract one iota from the value of double- 

 handedness, and I most strongly urge all anglers, old or young, to 

 devote some little time and attention to the acquirement of this most 

 useful, though so long neglected, bi-manual dexterity. 



