248 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



the fact that stern people were on the look-out to 

 see that I did not exceed the minutes of grace. 



No, on the whole I advise the novice to cultivate 

 independence and not to worry strangers with 

 letters. If he has introductions it is another matter, 

 and he may take the good things offered to him 

 with a thankful heart. Also he is more likely on 

 the whole to meet with a stroke of luck by not 

 being obtrusive. One of the best days I ever 

 had with trout was offered to me by a complete 

 stranger who noticed my rod and basket and 

 entered into conversation on the strength of them. 

 Such a day unexpectedly given is worth several 

 extracted from some luckless landowner by sheer 

 importunity. 



Even without such gleams of good fortune, an 

 angler may still do very well, if he goes about it in 

 the right way. His society's water will serve to 

 keep him happy and amused during his working 

 time, and during his holidays he can enjoy himself 

 farther afield simply by paying a small subscription 

 to some other society or by staying at some fishing 

 inn. So, though his basket may generally be light, 

 he can be his own man and all the better for it. 

 Piscator non solum piscatur ; it is after all a 

 commonplace nowadays to say that full creels 

 are not the whole of it. Health, happiness, peace, 



