AN APOLOGY FOR FISHING 



Ever since the time when the famous definition of 

 angling as a combination of " a stick and a string 

 with a worm at one end and a fool at the other" 

 was first given to the world, it has been the custom 

 of a large section of society to disparage the par- 

 ticular sport, which has for its object the catching of 

 fish, very much more than any of the other develop- 

 ments which the killing propensity takes among 

 sportsmen. When a man mentions that he is going 

 off on a fishing expedition, the announcement is not 

 met with the respect which is accorded to him who 

 proclaims the fact that he has it in contemplation to 

 spend a day in beating the turnips for partridges, or 

 riding across country in pursuit of a fox. People 

 have a provoking way of smiling when fishing is 

 spoken of ; and when they meet you, armed with 

 the necessary paraphernalia which makes up an 

 angler's equipment, their countenances directly as- 

 sume either an amused expression, indicating a state 

 of feeling not very remote from absolute pity, or a 

 look of delicate forbearance which is almost the 

 more difficult to bear of the two. 



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