226 SCIENCE OF FISHING. 



price. To such my advice is: get the best you can for the 

 money and be content. If you cannot put more than two or 

 three dollars into a rod, get a solid wood rod and if it is 

 bought from a reliable dealer, you will have a good article, 

 better than a cheap split bamboo, and something that you 

 need not be ashamed of, either. If you take good care of it 

 it will last many years, perhaps more years than you will be 

 able to fish. If you cannot put more than a dollar and a 

 half into a fly reel, you can get a really good one for that 

 price, and if you want a multiplier you can get a good one, 

 not a fancy one, understand, for two or three dollars. And 

 then if you have never done much fishing, I advise that you 

 purchase only a cheap outfit to use for a year or two, until 

 you learn to use it properly and to take care of it. By the 

 end of that time you will not need my advice, for you will 

 know exactly what you want. But buy what you can afford 

 for you will not be happy in using an outfit that cost more 

 than you could well afford to pay. 



Another thing regarding the use of high priced versus 

 low priced goods, though not exactly under that heading, is 

 your way of looking on and criticizing your companion's 

 outfit. Though your own may have cost ten times as much 

 as that of your companion, don't spoil his pleasure by 

 speaking lightly of it, or don't in any other way let him 

 know that you consider it inferior to yours. Better by far 

 speak favorably of it, even though it does not so impress 

 you, but you can surely see some good points in it, and you 

 will make him feel better by mentioning them. Let him 

 discover the faults himself; it will be more impressive and 

 he will like you better. 



Another thing regarding your conduct when fishing in 

 company of others that is good to remember is that it is 

 not a good idea to stand and watch a man play a fish 

 and tell him to do this and do that, and then if he loses it, 

 tell him that if he had done so and so he would not have 



