THE WEATHER 169 



motive ; it was the result of a fortunate conjunction of 

 unusual opportunity and ever-ravenous appetite. So 

 hungry were the fish that my iiies were seized as soon 

 as they reached the surface, and so confiding in their 

 hunger that it was almost in shame that I consigned 

 them to my creel. But I was young and eager, and 

 never before had I been oriven a chance of CTluttingf 

 my passion for the rod. Memorable as the occasion 

 was, I look back on it with little satisfaction, for I con- 

 tinued to fish long after I had wrung from the sport all 

 the pleasure it was capable of yielding. Had I been 

 older and wiser, I would have ceased while still at the 

 height of my enjoyment ; I should have known that 

 satiety would be followed by the usual revulsion. 



An evil reputation is not easily lived down, and 

 many generations of anglers will have passed, before 

 the east wind receives the recognition its virtues merit. 

 // is not the wind that most deserves the angler's 

 execrations. The ancient dooro^erel which affirms that 



"When the wind is in the north 

 The skilful fisher goes not forth," 



has reason — if it has not rhyme — to recommend it. It 

 may not be literally true, for he is unworthy of the 

 name of angler who is kept from the water by any wind 

 that blows, but the hint it conveys of the character of 



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