SCHAFFHA USEN. 2 1 9 



keep out of sight ; however, when I had got quite 

 au fait of this happy spot, I seldom knocked at 

 my friend's door without finding some one at home 

 and there was either a visible curl under the water 

 or a tug that bid fair to break everything to pieces. 

 Indeed I have been more than once broken, from 

 heavy fish making a rush, in the cramped place I 

 have named, and where it was impossible to give 

 them the butt, which is so necessary, though I have 

 read of people advocating the practice of holding 

 the point of the rod down. To them I will only 

 say, " You have missed your trade, sir. You cannot 

 be a fisherman, and ought to have been a tailor." 

 However, I have no right to dictate upon such 

 matters " Quot homines, tot sententiae" It is, 

 perhaps, a story I ought not to relate about myself, 

 but from carelessness, or laziness, or neglect of proper 

 precautions, it so chanced that in the cramped place 

 named I was broken no less than three times in 

 a very short space of time ; I mean, as quick as I 

 could put on a fresh casting-line or trace and bait 

 my hook. I am persuaded that on no occasion, 

 where there are fish of any size, ought one ever 

 to begin before one's line has been thoroughly 

 wetted. A dry casting-line, be it ever so good, is 



