18 FISHERMEN'S WEATHER 



what is As distinct from a purely academic 



ratter? interest inseparable from such inquiries, 

 the strictly practical use of such evidence 

 as has been collected in the present volume 

 is to acquaint the fisherman with the best 

 and worst weather for his sport with 

 particular fish and in waters of well- 

 marked climatic conditions. Much de- 

 pends on what individual sportsmen expect 

 of the weather. The mere consideration 

 of personal comfort, the objection to rain, 

 the aversion from frost or east wind, or 

 the fear of lightning, are not without 

 their bearing on this diversity of opinion, 

 but are, as has been explained, outside 

 the scope of these chapters. Something, 

 however, of the view as to what consti- 

 tutes ideal fishing weather depends on the 

 part which the weather is supposed to 

 play in the day's sport. Briefly, favour- 

 able weather may accomplish two pur- 

 poses : it may make the fish eager to 

 feed, and it may help to conceal the decep- 

 tions practised by the fisherman. The 

 first would seem to be a matter mainly of 



