XII. THE SALMON AND THE KODAK
XIII. HALFORD AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
XIV. CASUAL VISITS TO NORWAY
XV. CASTING FROM ROCKS AND BOATS
XVI. SOME CONTRARIES OF WEATHER AND SPORT
XVII. LAST DAYS WITH NORWAY AND ITS SEA TROUT
XVIII. GLIMPSES OF CANADA, ETC.
XIX. HASTY VISITS TO AMERICA
XX. A DEVASTATED ARCADIA

LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES

CHAPTER I

ANGLING AS A REAL FIELD SPORT

One of the commonest misconceptions about angling is that it is just
the pastime for an idle man. "The lazy young vagabond cares for
nothing but fishing!" exclaims the despairing mother to her sympathetic
neighbour of the next cottage listening to the family troubles. Even
those who ought to know better lightly esteem the sport, as if,
forsooth, there were something in the nature of effeminacy in its
pursuit.

Not many summers ago a couple of trout-fishers were enjoined by the
open-handed country gentleman who had invited them to try his stream to
be sure and come in to lunch. They sought to be excused on the plea
that they could not afford to leave the water upon any such trifling
pretence, but they compounded by promising to work down the water-meads
in time for afternoon tea under the dark cedar on the bright emerald
lawn. As they sauntered up through the shrubberies, hot and weary, the
ladies mocked their empty baskets, and that was all fair and square;
but a town-bred member of the house-party shot at a venture a shaft
which they considered cruel:

"You ought to have joined us at luncheon, Captain Vandeleur," said she.
"I can't imagine what amusement you can find in sitting all day
watching a float."

To men whose shoulders and arms were aching after five hours'
greenheart drill at long distances, and who prided themselves upon
being above every form of fishing lower than spinning, the truly
knock-down nature of this blow can only be imagined by those who
understand the subject. The captain, who is reckoned one of the worst
men in the regiment to venture with in the way of repartee, was so
amazed at the damsel's ignorance that he answered never a word, leaving
some of her friends in muslin on the garden chairs around to explain
the difference between fishing with and without a float--a duty which
they appeared to perform with true womanly relish as a set-off against
the previous scoring of the pert maid from Mayfair, who had borne
rather heavily upon them from a London season elevation.

Allow me to