Concluding Kemakks. 433 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



There is a right way, and, per contra, a wrong way, to 

 do every thing. I have endeavored in the preceding pages 

 to point out the right way of doing things pertaining to an- 

 gling, bnt I feel that my duty would be but half accom- 

 plished did I not give some advice relative to the proper 

 use and care of fishing tackle, before taking leave of my 

 reader. I am the more impelled to do this from the fact 

 that I have seen so many iine and elegant rods, reels, and 

 lines improvidently ruined, through sheer carelessness in 

 most instances, and through ignorance in others. 



Every angler should, himself, look after the welfare of 

 his tackle, and not trust it to the care of guides, boatmen, 

 or servants. Every true angler should do this, con amore, 

 as every true sportsman should, himself, clean his gun and 

 feed his dogs at the close of a day's shooting, or every true 

 sailor, himself, snug and stow his boat when the anchor is 

 dropped. As a good workman is known by his jealous 

 care and skillful use of his tools, so is a good angler known 

 by the way he uses and handles his tackle, a good sports- 

 man by the way he uses and handles his gun and dogs, 

 and a good sailor by the way he uses and handles his boat. 

 It is, therefore, essential that the new hand should know 

 the right way, to avoid the wrong way; not only on the 

 score of the fitness of things, but on the score of economy, 

 for more tackle is hopelessly ruined by a lack of proper 

 care, than by the most severe, though judicious, use. 

 28 



