236 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



took my fly. Well, thought I, salmon of such great size, in 

 so large and rapid a river, should be fished for with leaders 

 or casting-lines of double gut all the way. I will return to 

 tent, and try to rig gut leaders to hold them. 



The situation of our menage began to look inviting ; and 

 with the birch bark gathered by our gaffers, and the illus- 

 trated papers and magazines, our log cabin and dining-room 

 were cheerfully ornamented by the ladies, and the menu of 

 our dinner would not have dishonored a metropolitan hotel. 

 The gaffers' shanty was finished, and the cuisine attractively 

 arranged in order. After dinner, numerous sentiments wor- 

 thy of the day we were commemorating it being the glori- 

 ous Fourth of July were given, and we made the welkin 

 ring with shouts and music. 



The evening was spent in tying flies, and concluded by ex- 

 amining the lunar bow through the smoke of a camp-fire and 

 the bottoms of our punch-glasses until the near approach of 

 midnight, when we retired to fight again the battles of the 

 day in our dreams, and to mingle in them the faces of be- 

 loved ones far awa. 



SECTION SIXTH. 



HISTORY AND RUMINATION. 



Neither the Greeks nor Romans knew any thing about an- 

 gling for salmon. The Saxons knew not the real luxury of 

 angling. A thorough appreciation of angling can only be 

 known by man civilized. " Catch who catch can" is the 

 motto by which savages are guided, and the surest means of 

 killing game is to them the best. Savages kill solely to eat. 

 They know no better, and lack the genius of the civilized 

 poacher to invent stake and concealed nets. Civilization en- 

 ables the true sportsman to adopt suitable means to secure 

 sport, and as civilized men enjoy a more prosperous condition 

 than savages, they are not so dependent on the fish or game 

 they take or kill. Hence the sportsmen of the civilized world 

 can afford to give the animal pursued some fair-play " law," 



