16 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



farming, enables me to say with confidence that the former is 

 more apparent than real, and the latter is as a rule, when the 

 claim is not exorbitant and unjust, fairly paid for, and some- 

 times, I may add, even when it is. 



Fishing can scarcely be put in comparison with hunting, as 

 it is conducted in another element ; but as the father of anglers 

 himself dubbed it the contemplative man's recreation, I think 

 we may fairly give hunting the preference as to its influence in 

 rendering us a hardy and robust nation. 



No doubt the lordly salmon takes a deal of tackling, and 

 good wind and muscle, as well as knowledge of the gentle art 

 to bring him into the creel; but, like the red deer of the 

 Highland glens, he is only for the rich, and, nationally speaking, 

 out of our reach. 



As to the other denizens of our streams, I do not think their 

 pursuit, health-giving and pure as it is, looked at merely as an 

 amusement, is likely to develope any man either into an 

 Antinous or a Hercules. In saying this, I must be understood 

 as by no means wishing to disparage this or any other sport for 

 the exaltation of hunting, but merely look at the question as to 

 their influence on our race. 



