OF FLOUNDER FISHING AS AN ART 107 

 touching bottom a few inches in front of the 

 flounder's nose. This manoeuvre can be executed 

 only if the angler maintains the hypnotic gaze. 

 If his eye wavers for an instant the flounder 

 will see the descent of the landing-net and dart 

 away. All being ready, the purist will advance 

 the right foot and tread heavily on the tail of the 

 flounder. The flounder will then dash into the 

 landing-net. This is the crude form of the sport. 



MacAlister and I soon tired of such simple 

 work, and began to refine upon it. We allowed 

 the puristic part of our natures full play. We 

 raised flounder-fishing to the dignity of what it 

 is an art. First of all we ruled out all spears, 

 baits, and hooks. These we left to Master Peer 

 Gynt and the pot-hunters. Then we made a law 

 that no flounder should be touched except on 

 clean sand. This was necessary, because Mac- 

 Alister had shown symptoms of wishing to take 

 his hands to them among the weed. The man 

 who would guddle flesus would be capable of any 

 infamy. Thirdly, we decided that any fish which 

 should bolt into the net before he should actually 

 be trodden on, should be considered "foul 

 started " and returned to the water. We fixed 

 a size limit a two-and-threepenny French fire- 

 proof frying-pan. Then we made any but round- 

 mouthed landing nets unlawful and impure. A 



