52 Rambles with a Fishing-Rod. 



a dozen and a half or more of the latter species 

 of fish in all. But then to ensure a good day 

 you require a combination of several things. 

 First of all, there must be plenty of water in 

 the lakes ; for water the white trout must 

 have to ascend from the sea, and water they 

 must afterwards have to induce them to feed. 

 Then, for lake-fishing, a breeze and the stronger 

 the better, so long as it does not make the boat 

 unmanageable is necessary. However, the 

 story of these three days will have already 

 shown to any reader not accustomed to lake- 

 fishing, the absolute or almost absolute use- 

 lessness of fishing on a calm day. When 

 considerable expense is incurred for the hire 

 of boats and men, and payment given for the 

 right of fishing, a bad day becomes a serious 

 mortification to many men. With us this was 

 not a matter of consideration : a moderate sum 

 for the man and boat was only due ; and the 

 living, as might be expected, from the descrip- 

 tion of the Half-way House, was not very ex- 

 travagant. The fish which fell to our lot, 

 some fresh eggs, and milk-cakes, sufficed for 

 breakfast, and who could wish for a better ? 

 A duck or a young goose, which had lived his 



