FISHERMAN'S ELBOW 137 



AMBIDEXTERITY 



The student should be able to use either hand when 

 manipulating his rod, reel, or landing-net. There is 

 fortunately no difficulty in doing this when once the 

 science of casting is acquired, while there exist many 

 sound reasons in favour of such ambidexterity. Many 

 a good rising fish and many a difficult but likely spot 

 in the stream may be reached by him alone who can 

 cast with either hand. 



There is always the danger of a disabled right or left 

 hand or arm, and even when both arms are sound there 

 are times when a change of hand is not only pleasant 

 but necessary. I remember in 1897, while fishing on 

 the Wutach, getting an acute attack of fisherman's 

 elbow in my right arm, and for several days at a time 

 the ability to use my left hand in casting enabled me 

 to enjoy my sport with comfort and pleasure, when 

 to use my right hand gave me considerable pain. 

 The committee of the International Tournament, 1904, 

 very wisely introduced an open ambidexterous compe- 

 tition among their fly-casting events, Mr. Lauri 

 Hardy, of the firm of Hardy Brothers, being first, and 

 I having the good fortune to be second. Mr. Hardy's 

 average with six casts, using each hand alternately, 

 was 27 yards. The contest was exceedingly interesting, 

 and it is to be hoped that it will be repeated at the 

 future tournaments. 



