10 FISHING IN EDEN 



expression is available. " Bob " comes in here 

 with his technical skill in fishing, and provides for 

 a small group of lads the necessary training which 

 leads to systematic endeavour. His teaching all 

 tends to inculcate the great principles of self- 

 reliance and personal application, from which 

 individual achievement and full satisfaction must 

 spring. He tones down many of the thoughtless 

 destructive impulses of his young disciples, sug- 

 gesting to them at one time that it is nothing but 

 murder to take small and immature fish, and at 

 another that it is cruel to wantonly rob birds' nests. 

 At the same time he wisely puts something in the 

 place of these undesirable impulses. He is him- 

 self passionately devoted to the open air and 

 natural history and constantly brings to the notice 

 of his little band of followers all kinds of interest- 

 ing things, connected not only with the river but 

 with the fields and woods. However inadequately 

 all this is worked out there can be no doubt that 

 boys coming under such an influence will not only 

 be likely to grow up with a delightful spare time 

 hobby at their finger-ends, but with hearts full of 

 response to all nature's interesting ways and moods. 

 It is not intended that " Bob " should be 

 understood as a particular individual. He is 

 simply a type that used to be fairly common in the 

 dales a lover of boys, in skill and character a kind 

 of person to be looked up to, imitated and 

 followed. 



