FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



Erratic in every mood are these fish, from the 

 birth to the death. No man has learned, none 

 will ever know, how to account for their various 

 tendencies, which overthrow all reasonable theo- 

 ries, or manage to put together a menu of lures 

 which will always excite their appetite. Genera- 

 tions of lovers of the sport come and go, and yet 

 the great question never is settled. For this reason 

 will these illusive specimens of the finny tribe 

 always remain a joy to the true angler. Much 

 has been written, much more will be written by 

 able admirers, yet the humble attempt of the indi- 

 vidual may be excused, when zeal of admiration 

 is the incentive. 



Many and varied have been the means and 

 devices employed in the capture of these royal 

 beauties. In boyhood, when financial embarrass- 

 ment was a ruling factor, a common hook and 

 line, a pole cut from the young tree, and a large 

 worm, were enough to give joy to lads who even 

 then became skilled in finding out the shady 

 places, the deep pools, and other cunning hiding 

 spots ; or, with the shortened line, could crawl 

 near to a narrowing brook and carefully, softly drop 

 the bait, which would be quickly taken before 

 the biter realized that it was not a dainty morsel, 

 and thus became a captive. While, perhaps, the 



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