CHAPTER I 



SELECTION OF A WATER 



The word " selection " seems to point to a choice of 

 one among several waters which are offered to the 

 prospective lessee. Possibly my readers' experience 

 may not tally with my own, but during the last forty 

 years, although it has often been my fate to be look- 

 ing out for fishing, it has seldom, if ever, fallen to my 

 lot to have an opportunity of selecting from two or 

 more the particular fishery which, from its description, 

 would seem to be the most suitable. Usually a rod 

 on, or possibly a stretch of what may perhaps be 

 styled a second-rate chalk-stream, is offered at what 

 appears to be a very heavy price. As a rule we have 

 to say Yea or Nay very quickly, and if our answer is 

 in the negative, it is safe to predict that the fishery 

 will be snapped up with little delay by some other 

 ardent votary of the craft. 



For the sake of argument let it, however, be con- 

 ceded that there is a bona Jide offer at what one does 

 not, at the first glance, consider an absolutely pro- 

 hibitive rental, and that the refusal is given for a 

 space of time long enough to enable one at least to 

 consider and possibly inspect the water. If it should 

 be a length of one of the well-known Hampshire 



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