Outfit The Gaff. 67 



childhood ; while being in close contact with the fish year 

 after year from the beginning to the end of the season, 

 in every possible variety of weather, stage of water, and 

 other circumstances, and with almost every conceivable 

 method of fly-fishing, and almost every conceivable grade 

 of angler constantly before their eyes, their opportunities 

 for observation far exceed these possible to any one who 

 does not make salmon-fishing the sole business of life. 



I cannot but think that he who, without intimating his 

 own opinion, will by a system of judicious questions rub 

 his pet theories against the touchstone of these men's 

 great 'and varied experience, will find the practice of 

 value. Fly-fishing is a practical art, and lies quite with- 

 out the sphere of metaphysics. A theory thus confirmed 

 may be relied upon with redoubled confidence ; but if 

 contradicted, a careful review of the premises from which 

 it is deduced will certainly not be amiss. Are we not as a 

 class somewhat prone to generalize from a rather meagre 

 array of facts ? If so, any check which will tend to verify 

 a conclusion must be of value. 



Through the five weeks during which Tom presided 

 over my fortunes with the salmon, the pump was kept in 

 constant operation. He read me some dozen lectures on 

 the subject of gaffs, always winding up by reference to, 

 and praise of, the veteran instrument we had borrowed. 



If skill in the use of a tool makes a man a reliable critic 

 of w T hat that tool should be, then Tom's voice on the sub- 

 ject of gaffs was as the voice of one clothed with author- 

 ity. During all that time there was never one single 

 false motion, or one single mishap. He never moved till 

 the time was opportune, and then, whether in mid-river 

 he plunged the gaff beneath the water till but a foot or 



