RAIN, HAIL, AND SLEET 103 



Buxton dislikes hail Others less hostile Mr. Sheild 

 prefers it for spring fishing A curious experience on 

 the Esk Other opinions favourable to hail and sleet 

 Advantage of alternate sunshine and rain. 



THERE is a school of sportsmen which Discomfort 

 regards an alleged preference for fishing ain ^ 

 in dirty weather as the stamp of true 

 sportsmanship. "Alleged" rather than 

 real, because such professions of indiffer- 

 ence to climatic discomfort are probably 

 as little sincere as the assurance of those 

 who go on the sea for pleasure that they 

 find no enjoyment in smooth weather. 

 Here and there, no doubt, it might be 

 possible to find a joyless temperament 

 capable of preferring Nature in her un- 

 couth moods, but the normal human 

 being is for her smiles. 



It is not, however, from this point of 

 view that the prospects of sport on a 

 wet day will be discussed in the present 

 chapter. 



It is assumed that the fisherman is 

 sufficiently protected, or otherwise in- 

 different, to start out in a downpour, or 

 at any rate with the certainty of rain 



