MATHEMATICAL ANGLING 141 



the rapids by hanging your fly on them ; indeed, 

 you should always let your fly dwell on this sort 

 of water, or the fish will either lose sight of it, or 

 not choose to follow where you may wish him. All 

 these things are not easily explained in writing, nor, 

 I believe, in conversation, as will appear from the 

 following example. 



A friend of mine went with two companions to 

 fish in the river Mora, on the coast of Inverness- 

 shire. One of these two comrades was a young 

 Oxonian, and a novice ; the other was an experi- 

 enced fisherman. They were all three in one of those 

 Highland shielings, redolent of peat smoke and 

 whiskey, which is absolute luxury to a thorough- 

 bred sportsman, as being in keeping and character 

 with the nature of his pursuit. The Oxonian was an 

 excellent person, but, as I have hinted, knew nothing 

 upon earth about salmon fishing ; so Mr. E. C., 

 who was an adept in the said art, set about instruct- 

 ing him by word of mouth. The third person of the 

 party happened not to coincide with the excellence 

 of the simple instructions he was giving, and laid it 

 down as an axiom, that it was impossible to catch a 

 fish, unless your fly was at right angles to your rod. 

 This seemed not at all to be comprehended ; and 

 after a little arguing, the said oracle, by way of 

 illustration, took a stick, tied his handkerchief to it, 

 and gave a few throws on the table. " Now," said 

 he, " these are very bad throws, and would never 

 catch a fish." This assertion was applauded, and 

 immediately carried by acclamation. " To make a 

 good cast, and keep your fly in the rectangular 



