INTRODUCTORY 19 



and line in playing a fish. They who do not 

 feel these things will never care much for fishing. 

 Probably it is some subtle quality of temperament 

 which makes the difference between men in this 

 respect, but those who are anglers will probably 

 admit that in early boyhood, or at the first oppor- 

 tunity, they felt the excitement of these things, 

 and were captivated by it. For myself I know 

 nothing which equals the excitement of having 

 hooked an unexpectedly large fish on a small rod 

 and fine tackle. One instance, which occurred 

 not so long ago, comes often to mind. I hap- 

 pened one September to be fishing for sea trout, 

 with a single-handed rod, in a long stretch of 

 deep still water, peat coloured, but fairly clear. 

 The day was bright, one of those fine summer 

 days with a light east breeze, enough to make 

 some but only a little ripple. It was necessary, 

 therefore, to use as fine gut as I dared, and small 

 flies, and even then my success was not great. 

 One good sea trout of aearly four pounds was 

 hooked and landed, and several fish were seen, 

 but only occasionally would one rise, and then 

 always very shyly. Late in the afternoon, when 

 the breeze had nearly died away, and hope was 



