8 In Pursuit of the Trout 



one or two old friends.' If fishermen as a 

 class are of Mr. Black's mind in regard to 

 companionship, Byron's unkind allusion to 

 angling as ' that solitary vice ' must be 

 regarded as totally unjustified. The angler, 

 it is quite true, does desire seclusion from 

 careless, curious, and unsympathetic intruders, 

 but I question whether he is less desirous 

 of pleasant company, sometimes even by the 

 river-side, than is the sportsman in other 

 provinces. Both Walton and Davy by their 

 writings showed their companionable nature ; 

 and where, moreover, are firmer and more 

 disinterested friendships made than at the 

 angling inn ? After a long, glorious day by 

 the stream we anglers are fond of prattling 

 the evening away in the cosy smoking-room. 

 It is then that the sordid cares of life leave 

 us for a time, and 



* the boy's heart within the man 

 Begins to move and tremble.' 



* I scarcely know,' was Mr. Cooper's reply, 

 ' how to answer your question of " what 

 constitute the chief charms of angling ? " 



