104 FISHING GOSSIP. 



AN ANGLER AT THE ANTIPODES. 



ANGLING in Australia, even in clear rivers, has very 

 little either of art or science about it. Time will pro- 

 bably produce some improvement in this respect. 

 The fish will become more educated even the wide- 

 mouthed Murray cod may learn more discrimination 

 in baits, and if he still continues attached to raw 

 beef, may at least have his favourite cuts. Nay, as 

 it is, I do not doubt that a good trolling-rod, an oiled 

 silk line, such as I used of old when beguiling Thames 

 trout (" ah ! woeful when "), and a yard of first-rate 

 salmon-gut, with a middle-sized Kirby neatly lapped, 

 would kill more fish than the rude hand-tackle in use, 

 especially in hot days and low waters. But it is 

 difficult to make people in England conceive the un- 

 developed state of all sporting appliances in this 

 country. I cannot, for the chance of a possible day's 

 sport, carry a complete angling apparatus all over the 

 county with me ; and there is no more hope of find- 

 ing the dweller on the best of rivers well provided with 

 rod and tackle, and able to assist a visitor's sport 

 effectually, than of meeting with strawberry-ices in 

 a bush hotel I carry with me all that is absolutely 



