350 THE SALMON FLY. 



become rooted in the popular mind, may yet be pregnant with disastrous 

 consequences in practice. 



I say, " to know beforehand," for the simple reason that, after much 

 experience of " shy " waters, I find that changing front in face of the 

 enemy is a most difficult operation to carry out, whilst there is some 

 little chagrin in the mere fact of altering one's plan of campaign. 

 Naturally this of itself would be inimical to all pleasure for the time 

 being, for no Angler likes to feel that he has not been prepared to 

 immediately make the most of his opportunities. 



Old-time practices, once of daily occurrence, come vividly crowding 

 back on one's memory. Take, as an example, the way of fishing in a gale 

 of wind in by-gone days when there was a total absence of all principle, 

 and compare it with the present style of making a cast against the wind. 

 To fancy the " Overhand " the right and proper method, is a fallacy 

 indeed, and yet it was once the fashion. I remember following it myself 

 through the years of my calidajuventtts. I used to pursue the work with 

 vigour and enjoyed it to my heart's content in spite of defeat again and 

 again. The mere gratification of having a rod in my hand and trying all 

 I knew, was enough. No matter how the fly fished or whether it received 

 an " acknowledgment," so long as I covered a Salmon, say within fifteen 

 or sixteen yards, I was satisfied. Naturally in those days, if the fish 

 refused, I fancied the game was up and my chance gone ! It is true I had 

 scarcely begun to inquire into the subject of "presentation," its motives 

 and effects, and remained for long uncertain of its advantages. And my 

 want of success deluded me into the mistaken notion that fishing in strong 

 wind was impracticable. 



But at length the Overhand practice became too dull and dreary, and 

 as I grew too keen to sacrifice fishing for fun, and acquired the conviction 

 that, in a hurricane, the " Overhand " was alike a restriction and a fallacy, 

 I weaned myself from delusion and set about devising a better and surer 

 means of commanding the water. I investigated these matters some five 

 and twenty years ago, and finally grasped the principle which, without 

 more ado, we may well proceed to examine and analyse. 



In my opinion the " Wind Cast " (as I determined to call it) is of 

 rnmense value on its day. No doubt the practical demonstration of the 



