FERTILE IMAGINATION. 149 



should be strong in the arms, or he will never be able 

 to keep on thrasbiug for ten or twelve hours together 

 with a rod eighteen or twenty feet long, with ever and 

 anon a lusty salmon at the end of his line, pulling like 

 a wild horse with the lasso about him. Now he is 

 obliged to keep his arms aloft, that the line may clear 

 the rocks, — now he must rush into the river, then back 

 out with nimble pastern, ahvays keeping a steady and 

 proper strain of line ; and he must preserve his self- 

 possession, " even in the very tempest and whirlwind of 

 the sport," when the salmon rushes like a rocket. This 

 is not moody work ; it keeps a man alive and stirring. 

 Patience indeed ! 



It is indispensable to have a quick eye, and a ready 

 hand : your fly, or its exact position, should never be 

 lost sight of; and you should imagine every moment of 

 the livelong day that an extraordinary large salmon is 

 coming at it. No man can do any thing properly unless 

 he is sanguine, and his whole heart and soul is in the 

 business. " Remember, my good people all, I do not wish 

 to press this laborious sport unfairly upon you : excuse 

 me, but it may be you are not exactly fit for it, — ' non 

 cuivis homini,^^^ &c. You may saunter about Avith a 

 gauze net and two sticks, if you prefer it, and catch 

 butterflies. Every man to his vocation ; but " what is 

 a gentleman without his recreations ? " 



There is a speculation in angling that gives great 

 zest to the sport. You may catch a moderate-sized fish, 

 or a distinguished one ; or, mayhap, a monster of such 

 stupendous dimensions as will render your name im- 

 mortal ; and he may be painted, and adorn some fishing- 



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