454 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



birches ; on the broad Susquehanna, the blue Juniata, 

 and among the hemlocks and maples of the Pennsylvania 

 hills; under the moss-draped live-oak and stately palm, 

 amid the orange-groves and myrtles, the mangrove and 

 sea-grape, on the sluggish streams, the broad lagoons, and 

 among the coral-reefs and sunny keys of Florida; under 

 the cool beeches and broad sycamore, the graceful ehns 

 and lofty cottonwood, of the quiet streams of Ohio, Indi- 

 ana, Illinois and Missouri; in the cold, crystal streams, 

 gliding among the everlasting hills, clothed with tangled 

 forests of balsam and pine, in Michigan. It has taken 

 me back even to the days of lang syne, when, with a bit 

 of cock's hackle, tied on a pin-hook, and a willow wand 

 for a rod, I first essayed the angler's art, and made sad 

 havoc among the minnows, chubs and "gudgeons." 



I can only hope that the reader will experience as much 

 pleasure in perusing the foregoing pages, as I have done 

 in penning them ; and he will please remember, that, 

 though lie may differ with me on each and every page, I 

 will not quarrel with him; but, should we ever meet, as 

 brothers of the angle, in some sequestered spot on lake 

 or stream, we will, while smoking the pipe of peace, talk 

 the matter over cooly, calmly and dispassionately. But 

 he may rest assured, that, though all roads lead to Rome, 

 and though there are many ways of catching a Bass — I 

 have traveled some of the roads, and tried most of the 

 ways — if he faithfully follows in my footsteps, he will 

 never regret it, and never have cause to wish he had tried 

 the other way. 



And now I leave you, with this injunction ; and, though 

 I have mentioned it before, I do so at parting, that it may 

 be the more impressive : 



