ABOUT ANGLING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4326, 5 October 1921, Page 4

ABOUT ANGLING.

THE GENTLE ART.

Anglers were up betimes on Saturday morning with a wary eye on the weather, for Saturday was the l

eventful first of October—though possibly not always as evenful for (some of those who frequent the trout streams as they would like it tp be. Angling, according to "Johnstone's Dictionary” "the art of Using with a rod.” Dr. Johnson’s own private definition was slighty different, "Angling, sir,” he .is reported to have informed Boswell, “ means a rod with a fly at one end and a fool at the other,” Personally, I lean to the dictionary definition when starting for a 'trout stream in the chilly dawn, but by .the time evening arrives I am not. always sure that the other is hot the more accurate.

As a lowly citizen I only once saw angling carried on as a high -art.. It was on a summer evening on the Blackwater in Ireland. I sa: smoking a pipe with the most Irish of Irish majors I have ever metl, and watching a gorgeous sunset flaming on the ivied turrets of Lismore Castle and bn the waters flowing through the arch of Lismore’s ancient bridge. Across the river was the Marquis of Hartington, heir to ducal acres and palaces, casting with a salmon rod. Respectfully in the rear,,, on the bank, stood the head gillie with another rod, and respectfully behind the head

gillie were two assistant gillies with more rods and tackle. After half a

dozen casts, the Marquis would up his hand, and the head gillie would come forward and fake his lordship’s rod, hand him' another, and return to (he 'rear. The senior assistant gillie then advanced and handed the head gillie another rod in place of the used one, and retired with it to fix on a fresh set of flies. Every dozen casts or so the scene was repeated. As old Jzaak Walton says: “ God never did make a more calm’,, quiet. innocent recreation than angling.” However, exciting • events may have occurred after the stars came out, and the major and. I had retired to the smoke-room of the Devonshire Arms for a drop of supper. In a frame over the mantelpiece were some lines. “ Paste ’em in your hat,” said the Major, “ and when ye get back to the end of the airth think pn ould Major Barry and the Blackwather ” —so here they are : THE UNSKILFUL ANGLER’S LAMENT, Sometimes too early, sometimes too late; Sometimes no water, sometimes m spate; Sometimes too windy, sometimes too calm; Sometimes too .chilly, sometimes too warm; ’ Sometimes too muddy, sometimes too clear, — There’s aye something wanting when I’m fishing here !