TACKLE 27 



never regret the time devoted to it, for once an angler, 

 always an angler, even if the angler lives to be one only 

 in sweet recollections. 



CHAPTER III 



TACKLE 



NOT long ago a member of the American armed forces, 

 an ardent fisherman, wished, whilst training in 

 this country, to test his skill with our sea-trout. He had 

 no gear, and he solicited the assistance of a British angler. 

 Together they visited a tackle shop in a small town in 

 the provinces. The tackle dealer, after listening to a list 

 of the items desired, said that he had all the necessary 

 requirements, and produced a rod, reel, tapered line, 

 tapered casts, together with a quantity of flies. The 

 outfit appeared to be satisfactory in all respects, but the 

 total sum required was in the neighbourhood of twenty 

 pounds. The prospective customer intimated that he 

 was prepared to pay that amount, but his adviser con- 

 sidered that the price was too heavy for only a few days' 

 angling, and hinted to the American that he should visit 

 a nearby village inn which catered for sea-trout anglers 

 who fish an adjacent river. 



The suggestion received a ready response and contact 

 was soon made with the landlord, who enjoys using a 

 rod as much as his numerous clients. Quickly a derelict 

 rod, an old-fashioned brass reel much the worse for wear, 

 a short length of discarded line, a new gut cast and a 

 fly, popular for day-time fishing on this particular water, 

 were assembled. 



