WET FLY TROUT FISHING 147 



the fish in each different river. Even on a 

 strange river the angler's own knowledge of 

 the habits of trout in general will enable him 

 to use his flies with effect. Intimate knowledge 

 and long experience of any particular river do 

 give the angler who has them, a considerable 

 advantage, and, other things being equal, should 

 make his basket heavier than that of a stranger, 

 and may well give him also a sense of legitimate 

 and innocent pride. But there is also a pride, 

 both pleasant and just, in drawing upon a store 

 of general knowledge, and applying it unaided to 

 the trout in water which is new to the angler. 

 If he is a skilful fisherman, and keeps all 

 thought of beating records away from him, he 

 will not be disappointed with the result. After 

 many years I still cannot say which is better 

 to fish a new river for the first time, or to 

 fish on a good day water which has been long 

 known, on which one has the best of reasons 

 for expectation and confidence. Sometimes it 

 is novelty and the spirit of enterprise, at others 

 it is loyalty to old associations and the attrac- 

 tion of comparative certainty, that decide the 

 balance of pleasure. 



