190 THE DRY FLY AND FAST WATER 



he would not be dragged to the waterside unless 

 his "almanac" told him the time was propitious. 

 Curiously enough, when he did go, he always 

 took fish; but this may be ascribed to the fact 

 that he "knew how" rather than to a revelation 

 from the zodiac. 



A story is told of an angler of indifferent skill, 

 but anxious to take home a basket of fish, who 

 induced Squire Jake to accompany him one 

 morning. He felt certain of getting trout, the 

 Squire having approved of the day. Upon 

 their arrival at the stream-side he proceeded to 

 line his creel with fine grasses and ferns, when, 

 to his amazement, the Squire left abruptly, 

 saying he could not fish with one who would 

 thus "fly in the face of Providence." Was this 

 superstition, or only anger at the other's as- 

 surance ? 



Of similar mind to the Squire are those an- 

 glers who persist in carrying, to their own in- 

 convenience, a diminutive creel and smaller net, 

 preferring to cram into either a fish twice too 

 large rather than to carry equipment of adequate 

 size; the taking of a good fish is a circumstance 

 which they feel may never be realised if they 

 anticipate it. 



Some consideration must be given to the be- 



