CONCLUSION. 247 



sometimes given," I am almost tempted to say to 

 the novice, " Don't," but that would perhaps be too 

 sweeping. There are some proprietors who really 

 do give leave on receipt of a polite and proper 

 application ; they do not perhaps fish themselves, 

 and are pleased that others should do so under 

 certain restrictions, one being that they should 

 reveal their identity and fitness for the privilege. 

 But there are others whose patience has been 

 exhausted by the constant demands of strangers, 

 and whose assent to further requests for per- 

 mission is at best a doubtful thing. To be met 

 with a brief *' non possum" is not pleasant, and it 

 is scarcely redeemed by the reason (if any) 

 generally given, that " Mr. X. has been so 

 overwhelmed by applications for leave that he has 

 found it necessary, etc" 



When I was myself in the ardent state of 

 novitiate, a few refusals of this kind soon convinced 

 me that applications to perfect strangers were some- 

 times ill-judged. And one or two acquiescences 

 helped to this end. I remember once being given 

 two hours' fishing by a lady ! And on another 

 occasion I was restricted to a single hour ! Being 

 a boy then, I did not see the humour of it to the full, 

 but in both cases took advantage of my oppor- 

 tunities for what they were worth, regretting chiefly 



