PREFACE vii 



in these pages of any inclination to dog- 

 matise, for they know far too much of 

 the uncertainties of fishing to make any 

 attempt at laying down the law as to 

 the effects of any atmospheric condi- 

 tion. 



That our knowledge of this interesting 

 subject may "grow from more to more" 

 is both probable and desirable, yet, even 

 were infallible omniscience within our 

 grasp, we might be forgiven for declining 

 such a gift. On the day of perfect know- 

 ledge, when a glance at the aneroid 

 should tell the fisherman when it is 

 useless to leave his comfortable bed for 

 the dour river-side, such mechanical 

 prescience would rob the sport of half 

 its glamour. 



All that has been attempted in these 

 pages is to collect a number of authentic 

 cases in which the contents of the basket 

 have apparently been determined to a 

 great extent by certain conditions of 



