174 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



tioned. Everyone has his own little collection 

 of friendships with those greater than himself, 

 whose influence (unconsciously exerted) helps 

 in the defeat of mean and petty motives and 

 in keeping standards high, even if unattainable. 

 Then, for the fisherman, there is always the 

 consolation in spare moments of overhauling 

 tackle, oiling reels, sorting and rearranging 

 flies, discarding old gut and such-like activities, 

 to prepare for fishing days to come. Some 

 have enough leisure to tie their own flies. For 

 all, whether fishermen or not, some form of 

 production, by hand or brain, is essential to 

 contentment. A sense of achievement, or even 

 of effort resulting in failure to achieve, is the 

 best form of soporific when laying one's head 

 on the pillow to pass in forgetfulness some of 

 the hours that intervene before the opening of 

 a new Fisherman's Year. 



