112 TROUT FISHING 



Indeed, there is some cause for sus- 

 pecting that the people of Scotland do not 

 really believe that there is, or can be, a 

 science of the sport at all. They are dis- 

 posed to smile when any poor Southerner 

 appears among them equipped with all the 

 tackle which a first-rate shop in London 

 can supply. Nearly all of it is superfluous, 

 they think ; and the rest is probably 

 shoddy stuff. All that's wanted, they 

 will add when frank in their friendliness, 

 is to be had at the local ironmonger's. In 

 fact, excepting in Edinburgh, Perth, 

 Inverness, Glasgow, and one or two other 

 towns, the ironmonger is the recognised 

 authority. Often, as he spreads out his 

 cases, he will show you a really wide 

 variety of flies ; but of most of them he 

 has a poor opinion. In spirit, as now and 

 then in act when there is nothing to do, 

 he is a sportsman ; and he does not con- 

 ceal his opinion out of consideration for 

 his trade. His opinion echoes the voice 

 of the people who go to his shop for flies, 

 and " bait hooks " when there is a spate. 



