408 Reminiscences of 



appreciation, but I certainly could not allow his fur- 

 ther participation in benefits derived from our mutual 

 exertions, which his claimed superiority of station 

 must from that moment debar him from. He re- 

 ceived my decision in silence, and mounted his horse 

 for a neighboring settlement. I thought he would 

 then probably desert us, but he came into camp at night 

 as usual, and afterward caught up his meals as he could 

 outside of our supplies, and accompanied us to the Nar- 

 cimiento, leaving us there, and we saw no more of him. 



HAVING had over forty years of annual experiences 

 about the Rangeley Lake waters in winter and 

 summer, and having passed several months in many of 

 my visits, I have observed some features about trout 

 and animals which may be of interest to fishermen, and 

 which may throw some light upon the lives of those 

 fish, which are so gamy, beautiful and delectable. 



I will simply give my experiences and opinions 

 without any intention of entering into any contro- 

 versy with other fishermen whose experience, percep- 

 tiveness, and conclusions may be different from or 

 superior to my own. 



In referring to the Rangeley Lakes I include that 

 chain of larger lakes situated in Oxford County, Me., 

 commencing with the Rangeley, the Mooseluckme- 

 guntic, the two Richardsons, and the Umbagog, with 

 the adjoining and connecting small lakes and ponds. 

 The large lakes mentioned comprise a surface area of 

 eighty square miles, and the principal tributary lakes 

 and ponds, more than thirty in number, comprise an 

 equal surface area, or a total of 160 square miles. 



