HASTY VISITS TO AMERICA 263 



" This went on for an hour and five minutes. Some- 

 times the fish made for the boat, sometimes for the 

 sluice, and the rod was never still, but she had to give 

 in. At last another boat came and fastened to mine, 

 and the guide in it after three unsuccessful shots dipped 

 her out in the net. I need not tell of the excitement 

 there was when we got ashore. The fish was there and 

 then weighed and measured, and there and then entered 

 on the records. Weight 9 Ib. 2 oz., length 27^ in., 

 girth 17 in. She was a most handsome fontinalis, and 

 we counted ninety-three vermilion spots on one of her 

 sides." 



After this story from an experienced angler, whose 

 word is never doubted, I was very anxious to see that 

 small rod. The fish, as described, was before my 

 eyes ; I handled the fly (what at least was left of it), 

 and can describe it. B. Pond was really a fair-sized 

 salmon fly turkey wing, orange body, and claret 

 hackles, with the gold tip of the Professor. The collar 

 was of picked medium gut stained black, many of the 

 American anglers contending that this is the colour 

 least obtrusive to fish. The line was strong, but not 

 large. The rod was just as small as described, and 

 certainly a masterpiece of work. 



On returning to New York, after my visit to Chicago, 

 and delightful day at Niagara Falls, it was not until 

 I arrived at Albany that I saw anything in the shape 

 of scenery which could be compared to England ; and 

 very sorry was I not to be able to go across the river 

 and ramble about the town, that seemed to be en- 

 vironed with pleasant meadows and abundant foliage 

 the type of scenery one loves in the old country. 



The run down the Hudson river, even in the railway 



