EXPERIENTIA DOCET. 233 



depend largely on himself. He must use judgment, and especially be on 

 his guard against those well-meaning counsellors at the river-side, who, 

 with evident sincerity, " know all about it," and who honestly believe 

 themselves, like Hamlet, born to " set right " a " world out of joint." 

 Who, with but trifling experience, will not agree that the governing 

 (uncharitable folks call it meddling) faculty is extremely strong in some 

 natures? " Your fly is a mile too big," "Try so and so; that's your 

 only chance," etc., etc. That's the badge to know them by. 



It is also only too true that a vast amount of mischief goes on 

 outside the field of operations. One representative of a wider public 

 protests in this wise : 



' ' Light and shade ; the ways of the Salmon ; the condition of the 

 river how can they have anything to do with the choice of flies '? What 

 learned nonsense, what scientific humbug ! " 



Much allowance must be made for opinions emanating from 

 experience acquired in an easy-chair in a library. But it is to be 

 regretted for the sake of novices that some writers wage bitter and 

 unrelenting war against men who, in seeking the solution of fly problems, 

 apply the same methods as have conduced to the establishment of 

 principles in physical research. 



Passing over vexatious criticism we must all freely acknowledge the 

 liberal spirit with which our subject is occasionally treated. One amiable 

 critic (Mr. E. T. S., now of the Field) says : 



" When we come to study the problem of flies and grasp the mean- 

 ing of one particular theory, we begin to wonder how it is possible to 

 catch fish under any other system (meaning my own). Seeing is believing, 

 and all those who have seen have believed." 



Only at a recent casual meeting of Salmon-anglers engaged in dis- 

 cussing flies, etc., I was myself astonished to see the interest taken in the 

 subject. Twenty years ago, not a man would go a yard out of his way 

 to discuss them. When I was asked to give my experience, I began by 

 reading aloud portions of this book from the manuscript. Afterwards, I 

 asked those present how far they agreed with the principles set forth. 



" I don't believe in any principle at all," said one ; " but the sombre 

 fly business you recommend for dull days pays well enough on the Usk." 



