CONDITIONS WHICH GOVERN THE BITING OF FISH. 371 



ized, was told by a plain-spoken old gentleman that the 

 transaction passed the limits of per centage, and entered 

 the bonnds of petit larceny. 



But as an honest confession is good for the soul, I will 

 relate the incident referred to : I Wi-.s fishing in Okauchee 

 Lake, Wisconsin, in company with two friends from Cin- 

 cinnati, on a really perfect day in July. We had, unfor- 

 tunately, a bountiful supply of fine minnows for bait, and 

 after we had taken more than enough fish, I proposed to 

 stop; but my friends, to whom the experience was new, 

 could not be induced to relinquish the exciting sport, so I 

 continued fishing, under protest, and we took during the 

 day one hundred and fifty-three Bass, and, with shame do 

 I confess it, more than one-half — I am afraid to say just 

 how many more — fell to my rod. 



In justice, however, but not as a redeeming feature, I 

 will state that the fish were not Avasted, but a hundred fine 

 Bass were packed in ice and expressed to friends in Cin- 

 cinnati, and the balance were distributed among the hotels 

 of Oconomowoc. 



I always look back upon this circumstance with regret, 

 though I have done penance for the transaction, many a 

 time and oft, since, by stopping at a dozen Bass, when I 

 might have taken twice the number. 



Some anglers tell us that fish will not bite before a rain ; 

 others say they will not take a bait during a rain ; and still 

 others affirm that it is useless to fish ((fter a rain. Now, 

 while there is a grain of truth in each of these opinions, 

 yet if we blindly accept all of them and endeavor to follow 

 them, we shall'have no further use for our fishing-tackle. 



I do not think that rain, per se, has any influence what- 

 ever upon the feeding offish. It is, of course, impossible 



