THE AMERICAN TROUT. 23 
fishermen of the neigliborhood. That was before the 
stream was preserved for the benefit of the '' Poor 
Indian," and j)Oorer fishermen ninlcted, as at present, in 
five dollars a day for the privilege of fishing. We drove 
to the stream, almost six miles, Teasedale enlivening the 
early Jnne morning with snatches of hnnting songs, and 
when there plunged recklessly in. Oh ! but the water 
was cold — a dozen large springs poured in their freezing 
contents — and the blood fairly crej^t back to our hearts. 
The stream ran through a narrow defile, overhung with 
the thickly tangled vine and creepers, rendering a cast 
of the line impossible, and had worked its way far under 
the steep banks, making dark watery caverns, where the 
great fish could lie in wait for their pre}^ "We removed 
the upper joint of our fly-rod, which was heavy and 
strong, and leaving the line through the last ring of the 
second joint, we put on a bait next to the fly in beauty 
and effect, the minnow. The water was freezing cold — 
the closely entwined boughs and leaves shut out the heav- 
ens above, and we were alone in the shadowy darkness 
with the tenants of the deep. The herring frequented 
the brook, and pursued by the large trout, darted in 
shoals between our feet. It is always a good sign when 
the herring are running, and we had excellent luck. 
There are several ways of putting on a minnow, and 
if a person from ignorance or necessity must poach, let 
him poach well. There is the gorge-hook loaded with 
lead, the snell passed by the baiting needle at the mouth 
of the bait and out at the tail, bringing the hooks which 
are double at the mouth. It is highly recommended by 
some English books and their American imitators, but 
