TROUT AND ANGLING. 329 



having been suffocated in an attempt to gorge 

 another of a large size, which protruded from its 

 mouth. The flesh of all these overgrown fish is 

 described to be coarse and unpalatable. 



Of all the ponds or lakes which have been ad- 

 verted to as containing the primitive trout, there 

 is no one so well known or so much resorted to by 

 the ardent angler, as Sebago Pond, near Portland. 

 As early as March, in the spring of the year, these 

 fish emerge from the deep, and therefore warmer 

 water of the lake, and enter the Songo river, in 

 pursuit of their favorite bait, the smelt, at this 

 time they may be taken in great numbers with the 

 rod and line. The attempt would be fruitless to 

 succeed in the pond itself, at this early season. It 

 is customary, therefore, by those who make this 

 visit so early in the year, and whose love of the 

 sport prevails over the necessary privations, to en- 

 camp upon the margin of this tributary river. The 

 number of such, however, is small, but as the sea- 

 son advances, and the fish have receded from the 

 river, and dispersed themselves over the whole 

 lake, rising and feeding upon the various insects 

 which float upon its surface, the angler approach- 

 es with a better prospect of comfort, if not success. 

 His equipments are a long stout salmon rod, with 

 rings upon it as usual to guide the line, which is 

 made of silk and hair, woven together, and eighty 



