PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 75 



stantly occurring. Indeed, the successful capture 

 of a fish that rises to your fly is as frequently the 

 exception as the rule. And this is not to be 

 wondered at when it is remembered that the hook 

 used is not larger than the smallest pin when 

 curved. When the fish rises to this diminutive 

 object, and the angler " strikes,-'' the chances are at 

 least two to one that it will slip out of the huge 

 jaws of the eager fish. And even when the hook 

 catches some part of the exposed surface, it is quite 

 as likely to catch where the fibre is tender as where 

 it is tough. But if hooked just right, there is still 

 the contingency of imperfect tackling, a misshapen 

 hook, a brittle loop, a frayed leader, or a deceptive 

 line ; and superadded to all these, are the hidden 

 rocks against which line or leader is often chafed 

 up to the point of separation. With these and 

 many other chances against the angler, the wonder 

 is not that he often loses a fish, but that he succeeds 

 in killing so many. And yet it is this uncertainty 

 these always possible and frequently occurring 

 contingencies which give to the science its great- 

 est charm, and make success something of which 

 to be proud. 



