DRY-FLY FISHING 



CHAPTER I 



THE OBJECT OF FISHING 



THE primary object of trout-fishing is to 

 catch trout. If, however, the angler had 

 no desires above and beyond the mere 

 slaying of fish, his favourite appliances would be 

 the net, the explosive, the lime-shell, and the otter. 

 These are so extremely effective that it is well they 

 are viewed with disfavour, for, otherwise, both 

 trout and anglers would have ceased to exist long 

 ago, and much happiness would have been lost to 

 the world. 



The angler imposes upon himself certain restric- 

 tions. His overwhelming desire, amounting to a 

 passion, occupying his waking thoughts, and even 

 obtruding itself upon his dreams, is to capture 

 trout ; but at the same time he stipulates that the 

 pursuit will give him pleasure and sport. The 

 quest must also be attended with some, but not too 

 much, difficulty. If there is either too much or 

 too little, then no sport can ensue. For example, 

 if he fishes the wet-fly in July on a much-frequented 

 stream, he finds it so difficult to catch a single 

 trout that sport vanishes ; if he works the otter 



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