338 TROUT FISHING, 



record, within three times as many years, of fish, varying in 

 weight from four to six pounds, taken with the rod and line. 

 Two of these instances occur to me, as connected with circum- 

 stances which may render the relation acceptable, as of anecdotes 

 very unusual, and almost, but that they are proved beyond the 

 possibility of doubt, incredible. 



" Both these instances occurred at Stump Pond, on the north 

 side ; one in the pond itself, the other in the mill-pond, at the 

 outlet. 



" A gentleman from New York, thus runs the first story, who 

 had never thrown a line, or taken a Trout in his life, and who 

 had come out lately equipped with a complete outfit of Conroy's 

 best and strongest tackle, all spick-and-span new, and poifit 

 device, on throwing his hook, baited with a common lob-worm, 

 into the water, was greeted with an immediate bite and bob 

 of the float, which incontinently disappeared beneath the 

 surface, carried away by the hard pull of a heavy fish. The 

 novice, ignorant of all the soft and shrewd seductions of the 

 angler's art, hauled in his prize, main force, and actually, 

 without the aid of gafi" or landing-net, brought to basket a five- 

 pounder ! 



" The fact is remarkable ; the example decidedly unworthy of 

 imitation ! 



" The other instance to which I have referred is, in all 

 respects, except the size of the fish, the very opposite of the 

 former ; as, in it, the success of the fortunate fisherman is due 

 as much to superior science in his craft, as his, in the former, is 

 attributable to blind and unmerited good luck. 



"The hero of this anecdote is a gentleman, known by the 



