88 THETARPON 



matters connected with their craft all fishermen 

 are untruthful. It must, of course, be admitted 

 that large stories of fishing adventure are some- 

 times told by fishermen and why should this not 

 be so? Beyond all question, there is no sphere of 

 human activity so full of strange and wonderful 

 incidents as theirs. Fish are constantly doing the 

 most mysterious and startling things ; and no one 

 has yet been wise enough to explain their ways or 

 account for their conduct. The best fishermen do 

 not attempt it ; they move and strive in an atmos- 

 phere of mystery and uncertainty constantly aim- 

 ing to reach results without a clue and through the 

 cultivation of faculties non-existent or inoperative 

 in the common mind. In these circumstances 

 fishermen necessarily see and do wonderful things. 

 If those not members of the brotherhood are un- 

 able to assimilate the recital of these wonders it is 

 because their believing apparatus has not been 

 properly regulated and stimulated. Such disability 

 falls very far short of justifying doubt as to the 

 truth of the narration. " 



