132 The Atlantic Salmon 



through the dripping grass and penetrating fogs 

 of the early June morning, often finding his pool 

 covered with mist, and passing a comfortless and 

 luckless season, until it is time for the fish to rise, 

 when he returns to his breakfast with nothing- to 

 repay him for his sufferings except the conscious- 

 ness of having performed a repulsive duty. 



During the years I was addicted to this prac- 

 tice I never had but one really good early morn- 

 ing's sport, and that was on the first of July at 

 a pool in the Metapedia. Old Joe Bernard, who 

 was my head Indian, waked me at daybreak and 

 refuted my arguments in favor of further re- 

 pose by repeating, " Beautiful mornin' fer de 

 salmon," until I yielded and went to the canoe. 

 The weather was warm, clear, and bright when 

 the sun rose, and in two hours I came in to 

 breakfast with four salmon averaging twenty- 

 five pounds each. For years afterward the 

 memory of this exploit cost me many a broken 

 night's rest and many a shivering barren morn- 

 ing. When the water is low and the weather 

 hot late in the season, early morning may be 

 better than after the sun gets high, but at all 

 other times I think eight o'clock is quite early 

 enough to begin. The two best days' fishing 



