280 THE TROUT ARE RISING 
far-seeing Colonists who had so successfully 
developed trout acclimatization abroad. 
Those of us whom fortune has favoured in 
allowing us to fish for and catch trout both at 
home and oversea, and especially those of us who 
have been long in the Colonies—though South 
Africa is now a Dominion—can rejoice at and 
enter heartily into the unconcealed pleasure which 
it gives a Colonial-born man to come and fish in 
the Old Country, Countless kindnesses, thought- 
ful consideration, great hospitality, friends un- 
changed with the changing years—such in brief 
has been my experience of South Africans during 
many years’ stay amongst them. It was therefore 
delightful, when fishing in Devonshire, to meet a 
young South African, Major Blackburn, who 
came to the same hotel. He was having a few 
days’ leave before he returned to his home at the 
Cape. In keenness for trout-fishing we could all 
learn something from him. He fished, and fished. 
Big bags he got, too. Cold days, chilly water, 
had no terror for him. One early spring day, 
when two or three of us were on the river bank, 
and feeling cold at that, he was, if you please, 
wading in the water, fishing hard. Even that 
day he got trout. No wonder he won the D.S.O. 
and the M.C. 
Incidents at home connected with the thrilling 
moment—when a fish hooked needs playing— 
have curiously repeated themselves abroad. For 
instance, I have witnessed the nervousness of a 
novice whose first fish is tugging hard both in 
