124 TROUT FISHING 



will bring to memory similar incidents 

 in the experience of others will go far 

 towards rendering credible my con- 

 jecture that trout are not now more 

 " sophisticated " than they ever were. 

 That blithe sportsman by flood and 



field, Mr. T J B , possesses 



a three-mile stretch of a stream rising on 

 the borders of Surrey, Sussex, and Hamp- 

 shire. Year by year it is his hospitable 

 custom, when, in the pressure of business 

 affairs, he remembers that it is time for 

 fishing, to invite friends to go with him 



for a few days to H . As the 



thoroughly ancient Royal Hotel has 



accommodation enough for six guests 



besides himself, B is rarely without 



half a dozen boon companions when he 

 entrains at Waterloo. It does not matter 

 at all that one or two of them may never 

 have waved a rod before : at least, if this 

 is taken into consideration, it does but 



lend additional gaiety to B 's view of 



the outing. He rejoices in the joy of a 

 friend over the exciting marvel of the first 



