EXPERIENCE VERSUS CHANCE. 237 



now the subject of all our best Anglers' consideration. AVhat I mean is, 

 that I have frequently looked on " effect," and subsequently discovered 

 the " agent " by which it was produced. This led me to study my work 

 more diligently, and, with renewed effort, I was not only occasionally 

 rewarded with that which I sought after, but also with something even more 

 valuable. I learnt directly that useful knowledge must be superior to 

 chance, though often indebted to it ; that knowing the why and the 

 wherefore are stalworth aids as to how to proceed ; and that facts based on 

 observation may (however good) mostly be best turned to use when 

 helped by intuition. Once I rejoiced at being successful in a difficult 

 situation for a second, or even for a third time, but at another time, on 

 returning to the same pool, unconscious of its altered condition, I failed, 

 owing to my having forgotten its peculiar requirements. I still persevered, 

 and finally became convinced beyond all doubt that to the influence of 

 local surroundings may be traced many important facts on which, to this 

 day, I ponder before deciding what fly to use, and in what way to use it. 



I am fully assured, too, that every conspicuous object by, or in, the 

 water is eloquent with hints from which inferences may be drawn. Yet 

 I am not one of those who believe that a little knowledge, which Pope 

 pronounced a dangerous thing (though it did not, by the way, prevent him 

 from translating Homer on a very slender proficiency of Greek) even 

 that little, in my estimation, is better for the Angler than total ignorance. 



Compare, too, the pleasant issue attending one's labour under such 

 tuition as I am now attempting under training of the mind, eye, and 

 hand with that of men whose knowledge extends no farther than just to 

 put up " Jock Scott " and " go a-fishing ! " 



Of course, circumstances crop up to upset one's most cherished con- 

 victions. The faith one has in the " bright fly " doctrine, for instance, 

 that is to use gaudy patterns in clear waters on bright days, and to 

 reverse the process under contrary conditions see how easily this system 

 can be upset. Supposing bright flies have previously failed in the hands 

 of one who has been acquainted with the various Catches, say, for half a 

 century, and upon whom you place the utmost reliance for his judgment 

 in regard to size, and for his skill in regard to " presentation," you, fish- 

 ing after him, would always adopt exactly the opposite practice. Nor would 



