A LESSON IN ADVANCE OF THE SUBJECT 5 



a mile, than to have an accident occur through being 

 too hasty, or attempting a difficult passage. The 

 safest kind of a boat is dangerous when improperly 

 handled. Rapids, falls, and rough waters should be 

 avoided, unless a skilled hand guides the craft. One 

 can not handle a boat properly and fish at the same 

 time. An attempt to do this invites disaster and 

 certainly prevents success. 



The angler must be prepared for much disap- 

 pointment, for fish will not bite constantly, nor every 

 day. They have peculiar, unexplainable moods that 

 continuing favoring conditions of water, wind, and 

 weather can not control. An understanding of their 

 nature and habits, together with a good knowledge 

 of tackle and how to use it, greatly increases the 

 chances of success. At all events, patience must be 

 practiced, and the poor fish should not always be 

 blamed. 



Owing to the close similarity of various fish 

 members of the same family many errors are made 

 by fishermen in giving them their proper names. To 

 understand their distinguishing marks, consultation 

 of many Fish Commission reports is often necessary. 

 To properly distinguish and name fish is very neces- 

 sary ; to know how to catch them, absolutely so. To 

 present this knowledge in an authoritative, compact 

 form is the aim of the following chapters. 



