68 FISHING IN EDEN 



the others, and that this development, coupled with 

 experience, probably betrays the secret of his 

 greater success. There was also manifest in him a 

 clear intention in all that he said and did. He 

 wasted no time on barren water, or in useless effort, 

 and there was to be found in him an urgency of 

 desire which is without doubt the mainspring of 

 achievement. 



Other examples of this great principle are to 

 be found in Mr E. M. Todd, and the late Mr 

 Stewart. 



One occasionally comes across fishermen who are 

 surprisingly full of knowledge in regard to fishing. 

 They have made a careful study of it, have read all 

 the literature about it, and are equipped for it to 

 the minutest detail, but nevertheless often fail 

 utterly in regard to achievement. 



Does too great an academic knowledge in such 

 men cramp them in some insidious way? Whether 

 it does or not there is in fishing something to be 

 said for instinct; for the subconscious mind, 

 untrammelled by too many theories, instinct jumps 

 quickly, and often unerringly, to the right con- 

 clusion. Learning by doing and seeing goes a long 

 way, but not all the way. Witness the caddies who 

 have followed daily, from youth upward, great 

 masters such as Harry Vardon. They all want to 



