Fishermen's Weather. By F. G. Aflalo. (A. and C. Black.
7s. Od. net.)—Mr. Aflalo asked "more than a hundred anglers of recognised qualifications" what they thought about good and bad weather for fishing, and received a number of answers which he has reduced to order in this book, arranging them under the headings of "Sunshine," "Rain, Hail, and Sleet," "Frost and Snow," " Wind," " Thunder and Lightning," " Fog and Mist," adding an appendix in which he gives some experimental results, —"Best and Worst Weather for Certain Waters" he calls it. It is needless to say that there is no general agreement among these authorities. Obviously weather is but one among many conditions. It may be neutralised by other circumstances ; its union with them may produce varying results. The writer of this notice has had considerable experience in fishing, and lie is inclined to follow the opinion of Colonel C. G. Colliugwood when he writes :—" The old theory of S.W. wind being the best for fishing is rubbish. It does not matter whether the wind is N., E., S., or W., so long as it blows up stream. That is the essential point." This means that what helps the fisherman's art is much more im- portant than what affects the fish. It is, to put the thing in philosophical terms, the triumph of the objective over the subjective. In salmon-fishing a wind that makes all skill in casting a superfluity is most to be desired. The same is true of pike- fishing,—with the proviso that it must not be so strong as to interfere seriously with the fisherman's management of his tackle. But the one lesson of all this experience is to persevere. A. quotation made by Dr. Foakes-Jackson is very much to the point : " He that obsorveth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Mr. Aflalo's book may, anyhow, be read with certain pleasure—enhaucod by some pretty pictures—and quite probable profit.
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