THE SALMON. 33 



Land-locked Salmon waters are open in Maine and Canada 

 about the middle of May, and there is good fishing for Wana- 

 nishe in most of the numerous tributaries of Lake St. John, 

 Province of Quebec, about the same time. A month later 

 the fish are plenty on the riffs of the Grande Discharge, or 

 outlet of the lake; for which I would advise the use of light 

 Salmon tackle, such as professional Salmon anglers keep for a 

 second outfit, as also for the Land-locked Salmon of Sebago, 

 Toed's Pond, and other waters, which are apt to run up into 

 the twenty-pound weights. For Salmon fishing, pure and 

 simple — the old-fashioned Salmon fishing, where the rod has 

 to stand a testful racket — I would choose a sixteen to eighteen 

 foot rod. The advantages of length are obvious to any one 

 of experience on the heavier Canadian streams, and one need 

 not be talked out of his common sense by the current hue 

 and cry about light rods. The man who talks "light rod" 

 has never fished where heavy rods are needed, and is not Com- 

 petent to coach. He does not comprehend the first princi- 

 ples of the situation. A wooden rod is apt to be heavier 

 than a split bamboo in proportion to its length; but all else 

 being equal, the life of a wooden rod is the longest. Any 

 rod whatever which is too heavy to wield without the aid 

 of a waistband and thimble, should be discarded. These 

 long, heavy rods are in request for heroic work in wicked 

 waters, when the wind is stiff, and the fishing may be called 

 taxing. Second rods are better adapted for switching where 

 casting room is restricted, and for use in calm days and quiet 

 pools. Whenever one can use this lighter rod, the climax of 

 pleasure is reached. The reel should be heavy enough to 

 balance the rod, made of nickel and rubber, with crank 

 enclosed b)- a flange, so as not to catch the line, and the line 

 should be as light as one can possibly make good casting 

 with. One hundred yards of oiled silk are enough, unless 

 your fish flops into a rapid, when you will want a thousand. 

 A bulky line shows in the water; a line that is light for its 



