i6o 



ordinary test. As he progresses in drawing inferences from facts, in 

 reading ajight the signs of local surroundings, and in deciphering the 

 more obscure passages in the great book of Nature, he deserves well ; 

 and when he gains an advantage over his comrade, that rouses the 

 enthusiasm which warmed the Spring-time of his career, he fares as 

 well as he deserves. He then sees the good of having based his prin- 

 ciples on a safe foundation. He has, for instance, kept his sombre 

 flies for dull, dark days, his bright ones for fine clear weather ; and 

 has reserved his special patterns for those particular occasions which 

 have been enumerated in these pages and in my previous publication. 



In truth, the system is one which will force itself sooner or later 

 upon the attention of one and all alike. 



These observations would, however, be manifestly incomplete 

 were not some notice taken of " the genuine old stager " ever ready to 

 offer a helping hand to younger members of the vocation. He f.nds 

 time, and no small amount of time either, to show them with frank 

 sincerity and conspicuous ability, where to stand, what fly to use and 

 how to use it, and his ideal is attained when, under his own personal 

 supervision, they succeed where they have previously failed. 



But, as a leading feature of their nature is a restless activity of 

 mind which prompts them to get every scrap of information 

 obtainable, they are occasionally tempted to hold friendly fellowship 

 with the too learned enthusiast, who, with a sublime disregard of the 

 consequences of his gratuitous instruction, and abortive struggle to 

 help the world along, is too often in evidence. They can identify 

 him directly he talks, just as they can grasp the extent of the 

 knowledge of an angler who starts on the perilous adventure of 

 rushing into print, and struggles to prove an universal negative. He 



