252 LINES IN PLEASANT PLACES 



though the city has in itself so clear an atmosphere 

 that people are able to build marble houses with im- 

 punity. Still, in the heat of summer the citizens 

 and small blame to them make it a rule of flying 

 nearer the ocean, and Long Island is one of their handiest 

 and most appreciated resorts. There are upon it many 

 trout preserves ; " ponds " they are called, but we 

 should give them the higher title of lakes with a clear 

 conscience. They are generally maintained by clubs 

 of wealthy members, and each has its comfortable 

 house. 



The earliest trout fishing to be found in this country 

 is here. April I is the opening day, and the season 

 opened well, though a snap of rough weather during 

 the last fortnight interfered with sport. There are 

 numbers of lady anglers, members of the Long Island 

 colony, and two of them to my knowledge made capital 

 baskets during the Easter week. A New Yorker gets 

 through his business in the city before luncheon, and 

 then, in a couple of hours, he is at the Long Island 

 clubhouse getting into his fishing suit. Fly-fishing only 

 is practised, and the fish are principally fontinalis. 

 Unless otherwise stated, this species is always intended 

 in any reference to trout. 



Our brother anglers here are, as a rule, keen sports- 

 men and honest men, meaning that they are glad 

 whenever they can assist another in securing the re- 

 creation which makes fishermen kin all the world over. 

 My chief trouble was that I could make no manner of 

 use of a tantalising list of kindly invitations to cast a 

 fly in Long Island. Then there is another and smaller 

 island at a greater distance, Martha's Vineyard, beloved 

 of old whalers, where there are well stocked trout 

 streams ; but it goes quite without saying that all the 

 water near New York City is preserved, Outside, in 



