248 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



escape the landing-net, after the insidious, treacherous 

 hook has pierced their mouth, commences living 

 in anticipation, and, doubtless with faithful and well- 

 tried friends, plans numerous and stolen visits to 

 favourite streams or well- stocked rivers. 



Rods, lines, flies, and reels, which have for months 

 rested in dusty closet or well-secured packing-case, 

 again see the light of day and undergo careful 

 scrutiny, that neither break nor flaw may be un- 

 repaired; rings which were lost the previous season 

 are now replaced ; frayed wrappings of silk have been 

 stopped, a drop or two of oil has been donated to the 

 sonorous reel, and, doubtless, the moths have had 

 sundry imprecations hurled at them for wholesale 

 destruction of gaudy feathers, which have cost many 

 a pound, or sundry hours of labour to procure, 

 and whose deficiency has got to be replaced before 

 the outfit can be deemed perfect. Of all field 

 sports, there is none that requires more particular 

 attention to all the many details ; every portion must 

 be kept in perfect repair, for the probability is, that 

 the very first time you are caught wanting you will 

 have reason to rue it for the balance of the season. 

 Strange as it may appear, we have invariably found it 

 so. If we were scant of tackle, or our outfit had 

 become injured, and unreliable, we were certain to 



