TIPS 



surely enough, is reserved only for our so-called " generals," and is 

 less astonishing to the rank-and-file than the manner in which it has 

 been gained. 



We are to understand that the water in question had been 

 improperly flogged, but to distinguish more clearly the diflierent effect 

 of the right and wrong practice of treating it, we had better draw a 

 brief comparison between the two. 



To begin with, the usual habit of Ashing regularly down the 

 water would be, for fisherman No. 2, absolutely useless. Then 

 consider this. It is generally supposed that the sloping outlet on each 

 side of such a place is always well worth a trial ; but punishment given 

 to the far side would complicate matters m no small degree, seeing 

 that the compulsory operation of picking up the line over the tenanted 

 lay-byes at each successive cast, would most likely frighten the fish 

 to death. Moreover, notwithstanding that it is an every-day practice 

 to use a dull looking fly in stillish waters, the real secret here is to 

 mount an exceptionally bright pattern with a body composed entirely 

 of silver tinsel. 



This is about all that need be said, not only to show how severely 

 the second in command is likely to be handicapped, but also that 

 elaborate conditions require elaborate policies. 



Of course, there must be a good deal of the conjectural about 

 what your predecessor has been doing, and a little information thereon 

 would form an essential element in determining what to do yourself. 

 What one would like to know amounts to this : The sort and size of 

 fly previously used, the number of times the water has been thrashed, 

 whether sticks were pitched in for the little terrier to retrieve (this is 

 not caricature), and what is still more important, how long a rest the 



