14 THE AMERICAN TROUT. 
for life ; but our legislature is looking into the matter, 
and there is no telUng how soon such statutes may be 
How splendid is the sport, to deftly throw the long 
line and small fly wdth the pliant single-handed rod, and 
with eye and nerve on the strain, to watch the loveliest 
darling of the wave, the spotted naiad, dart from her 
mossy bed, leap high into the air, carrying the strange 
deception in her mouth, and turning in her flight, plunge 
back to her crystal home, with the cruel hook driven iuto 
her lips by a skillful turn of the angler's wrist ; to meet 
and foil her in her fierce and cunning efi'orts to escape, 
paying out the line as she rushes away resistless, meeting 
her in emergencies firmly and steadily, till the tip crosses 
the but, when she insists upon reaching the old stump 
or the weedy bottom ; to slack the line when she leaps 
into air, trying to strike it with her tail ; and above all, 
to watch the right moment, and keeping her head well 
up, to bring the beautiful prize quickly and steadily to 
the net ! There may be others who have killed more and 
larger trout than myself, there may be others who can 
cast a longer line and lighter fly ; but there are none v/ho 
will work more steadily or who can enjoy it more 
intensely. 
There are innumerable rules applicable to trout fishing 
and innumerable exceptions to each; neither man nor 
fish is infallible.** A change of weather is always desir- 
able : if it has been clear, a rainy day is favorable ; if 
cold, a warm one ; if the wind has been north, a south- 
erly one is advantageous ; a zephyr if it has been blowing 
a tornado. Generally, in early spring, amid the fading 
