Hunting Lore 279 



for Whig leadership, Henry Clay, cared much for 

 horses, dogs, and guns ; but though an outdoor man 

 he had no chance to develop a love for big-game 

 hunting. He was, however, very fond of the rod 

 and shotgun. Mr. Cabot Lodge recently handed 

 me a letter written to his grandfather by Webster, 

 and describing a day s trout fishing. It may be 

 worth giving for the sake of the writer, and because 

 of the fine heartiness and zest in enjoyment which 

 it shows: 



SANDWICH, June 4, 

 Saturday mor g 



6 o clock 

 DEAR SIR: 



I send you eight or nine trout, which I took yesterday, in 

 that chief of all brooks, Mashpee. I made a long day of it, 

 and with good success, for me. John was with me, full of 

 good advice, but did not fish nor carry a rod. 



I took 26 trouts, all weighing 17 Ib. 12 oz. 



The largest (you have him) 

 weighed at Crokers 2 &quot; 4 &quot; 



The 5 largest 3 &quot; 5 &quot; 



The eight largest II &quot; 8 &quot; 



I got these by following your advice; that is, by careful & 

 thorough fishing of the difficult places, which others do not 

 fish. The brook is fished, nearly every day. I entered it, not 

 so high up as we sometimes do, between 7 & 8 o clock, & at 

 12 was hardly more than half way down to the meeting-house 

 path. You see I did not hurry. The day did not hold out 

 to fish the whole brook properly. The largest trout I took at 

 3 P.M. (you see I am precise) below the meeting-house, under 

 a bush on the right bank, two or three rods below the large 

 beeches. It is singular, that in the whole day, I did not take 

 two trouts out of the same hole. I found both ends, or parts 



