2O CATCHING THE WILY SEA-TROUT 



the ethics of true sportsmanship are based on honesty 

 of purpose and consideration for other followers of the 

 game. 



Another difficulty with which prospective anglers have 

 to contend is the disinclination of certain local fishermen 

 to afford information concerning the rivers which they 

 fish. Much to the annoyance of some of these indi- 

 viduals whose one standard is personal interest, I have 

 refused to be muzzled and, for the benefit of angling 

 friends and others, I have, without fear or favour, 

 reviewed the merits of various waters as they have 

 appealed to me. 



Years ago I was approached by several anglers who 

 requested me not to mention the river which they fished. 

 They said that they desired to keep the water for their 

 sole use and to be free of visitors. My answer, at once, 

 was to the effect that I could not entertain such a selfish 

 suggestion. My explanation of my refusal was that I 

 had always supplied information which I considered 

 would be useful to the readers of the angling press and 

 that I could not see my way clear to depart from my 

 usual procedure. The members of this pettifogging 

 clique were most chagrined at my reception of their 

 entreaty, and were more so when they found that my 

 word had been kept irrespective of their pleadings. In 

 fact, ever afterwards, these individuals failed to be civil 

 to me. That puerile gesture, however, did not bother 

 me, and I was delighted when followers of my advice 

 later tried the river with good results. 



The extraordinary feature concerning the incident is 

 that the applicants for their river's immunity from 

 notice were strangers to the district. They were men of 

 wealth and they had outbid the " locals " for the fishing 

 rights of that particular stretch of river. Then, having 

 been successful, they, by a gradual extension of their 



