INTRODUCTION 59 



colour of the water, and artistically thrown 

 over the fish." 



It is therefore of great importance that 

 the fisherman who would be successful 

 should persist in the teeth of the elements ; 

 that he should go forth undismayed and 

 stay by the water as long as he can see to 

 fish. 



"A successful fisherman," writes Dr. 

 Foakes-Jackson, "must not be given to 

 too much observation of the conditions of 

 the weather. It is as true of fishing as it 

 is of agriculture : * He that observeth the 

 wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth 

 the clouds shall not reap.' Not to go out 

 fishing because the day is not a likely one 

 is a fatal mistake. There are, of course, 

 certain climatic conditions under which 

 it is impossible to catch fish ; but the 

 weather, as a rule, changes so frequently 

 and so rapidly that it is generally worth 

 waiting for these to alter. Often under 

 apparently perfect conditions no fish stirs, 

 and the only thing to be done is to fish on 

 till a chance comes. There is a loch in 



