WHERE TO FISH. 99 



managed to enjoy his holiday as much as others 

 who had laid their plans for months before, and 

 knew to an hour where they would be every 

 day. 



Although I have never actually done this, I 

 must own the plan sounds attractive. We all 

 see rivers from train windows the very names 

 of which we do not know, yet which wind 

 among quiet old world villages miles away from 

 a station. I have often longed to take my bag 

 and fishing rod, book to the station nearest to 

 such a river, and put up at the village inn for 

 the night, relying upon my being able to hear 

 of some meadows where I might throw a line. 



My first introduction to the Axe was brought 

 about in a very similar manner years ago. It 

 was the first week in April after an exceptionally 

 early Easter, when having on a previous journey 

 to Exeter seen the Shute Arms Hotel from the 

 carriage window, I made up my mind to send 

 a wire, and book to Seaton Junction, arriving 

 there early in the afternoon in time to go on 

 to Colyton or Seaton, in case I could not be 

 taken in. As it happened, all turned out most 

 pleasantly. A fishing ticket for the Shute Estate 

 preserved water was going to be available the 

 following day when a visitor was leaving, and 

 that same visitor, a young schoolmaster, who 

 came in at teatime with four brace of small 

 trout, took me for a walk before dinner and 

 proved a most entertaining companion as we 

 sat up and smoked together afterwards. 



So much was his company appreciated that I 



