i6 



being brought into operation. Like yourself, people tinctured with 

 enthusiasm won't use anything else. Thousands sustain the frenzy 

 of such enthusiasm — a frenzy that animated their fathers and mothers 

 ^but that only shows the influence exerted by all who acknowledge 

 the authority of tradition " 



" Then I pity the man who vows that ' enthusiasm ' is the genius 

 of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it.' You are, 

 nevertheless, a capital teacher, interesting because always interested. 

 .... I wish you would tell me where the change you speak of is 

 most needed .'' " 



" Where ? Everywhere, especially on hard fished waters 



Take the case of Miss R , consider that. I knew her ; took her 



out ; taught her fishing. Last year, you remember, in May and June, 

 she fished the Dee. Do you think for a moment that ' Lizzies ' and 

 ' Logics ' occupied an atom of space in her book— pooh ! rather not ; 

 they are absolutely out of it now ; she took a set of modern summer 

 patterns, and caught twenty-seven fish. In my opinion that is twenty 

 more than would have fallen to her lot without instructions. ' What 

 was the most successful fly?' Well, you had better put the name 

 down. It was the ' Silk Bodied Benchill,' a first-class pattern, and 

 killed sixteen all told " 



" Oh, that satisfies me ; I've made a note of it, and " 



" Stop a minute, stop a minute ; the summer this year may be 

 very different. Still, if the conditions of water, weather, and stock 

 of salmon are at all sinnlnr, there would be a very slight difference in 

 the numlier caught." 



" Well, I've tried the Dee ; how about the ' Blue Charm ' up there, 

 eh ? " 



