514 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



only tell you what Brown told me of the fishing at the White 

 Mountains. But here are some leaves from an old number 

 of the Knickerbocker, with a description of the adventures 

 of three very scientific anglers in Northern New Hampshire. 

 I brought it along, intending to read it in the house or in 

 Uncle Ickey's saw-mill, some day when we were weather- 

 bound ; but it will do as well now. So take your dudeen 

 out of your mouth, and read it yourself." 



[Joe takes his seat on a stump, and "ab alto toro sic iiicipit."] 



TROUTING IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



I HAD often heard of people catching Trout " as fast as they could haul 

 'em out :" I had often been assured of the plausibility of such a fact, but 

 I had my doubts. I knew /had fished for Trout, and never " hauled 'em 

 out" at all, and so I was a sceptic as to any such proceedings as enthusi- 

 astic anglers from the north of the Granite State had repeatedly affirmed 

 to have been within their daily experience. Taking all things into con- 

 sideration, therefore, I determined to try for myself. 



There were three of us : our baggage as follows : Item, one bottle of 

 gin, two shirts : Item, one bottle schnapps, two pair stockings : Item, one 

 bottle Schiedam, one pair fishing-pants : Item, one bottle genuine aromatic, 

 by Udolpho Wolfe, name on the wrapper, without which the article is fic- 

 titious, one pair extra boots : Item, one bottle extract of juniper-berry ; 

 one bottle brandy, long and wide, prescribed by scientific skill for medi- 

 cinal purposes. Also, rods, flies, tackle in abundance, and a supply of 

 gin ; in addition, each of us had a quart-flask in our pockets, containing 

 gin. We also had some gin inside when we started. 



Thus prepared, we started by rail from where the gin was purchased, 

 for Littleton, which we reached in the afternoon. 



Littleton is a large and flourishing community, composed chiefly of 

 ephemeral stage drivers, black-legs, and acute landlords, who play poker 

 with unsuspecting travellers over night, to whom they lend money in the 

 morning to pay their tavern-bills. We did not abide in Littleton. We 

 procured a wagon and two horses, or rather, about one and a half, and set 

 forth about three p. m. As soon as we reached the highway, and were 

 clear of the surrounding houses, I obtained my first view of New Hamp- 

 shire scenery. 



