RANDOM MEMORIES 71 



ing stock is thus maintained. Alas ! the 

 net is not alone responsible for the deple- 

 tion of some of our Breton rivers. There 

 are other methods of destruction, such as 

 the use of lime and even dynamite. 



There will be times when the angler 

 will need all his self-control to preserve 

 outward appearances, bitter times when, 

 if he can keep silence, he shall keep his 

 soul. The mental attitude of the philoso- 

 pher is difficult of attainment. That 

 miraculous hatch of olive duns is apt to 

 lose some of its charm on a Ashless length 

 of stream, and it is no easy matter to study 

 botany round the margin of a pool that 

 was scoured overnight by a drag-net. 



Let us pass on to happier thoughts of 

 small red worms. These are regarded 

 with passion by the Breton trout during 

 the hot summer months. If here the 

 chalk stream exquisite should rise up in 

 contemptuous anger we take no offence. 

 We are too cosy by the fire even to argue. 

 Besides, he does not know Jean Pierre, 

 and to fish the small red worm as does 

 Jean Pierre is a consummate art. He 

 seems to esteem it most in bright, hot 



