PRACTICAL FLY FISHING 



lines made on him by some local * poet ' of the 

 day : 



* Franky fine with his rod and line, 

 Never shall true-hearted miners join.' 



1 Fine is an allusion to his fine clothes. The 

 explanation of the last line is a trial that took 

 place about the ownership of some lead ore, 

 and Frank gave evidence that did not suit the 

 miners.' 



This unpopularity, no doubt, explains why 

 Mr. Beever went out of his way, as it seems, to 

 defend his first teacher : * Always true to his 

 colours, and one of Nature's gentlemen.' 



Frank's grand secret was simply the principle 

 to ' Rule by obeying Nature's laws ' : to watch 

 the real flies* upon which the fish were feeding, 

 and to imitate them, without regard to common 

 usage and the rules of theorists. But it needed 

 a born artist to do that, with a keen eye, a 

 neat hand, and a good share of brains. Mr. 

 Beever was an apt pupil, and carried out the 

 principle with success during forty years' ex- 

 perience, in frequent visits to Scotland, to Wales 

 and abroad, as well as in constant practice over 

 the more familiar waters of the Lakes and 

 Derbyshire. Such an interest in fishing led to 

 a keen interest in fish, and he spared no pains 



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