64 LONG ISLAND. 



of those towering hemlocks, or penetrate into the leafy recesses 

 of the darksome forest. I would watch the sun-flecks on the 

 water, or the tremulous leaves of overarching trees reflected 

 on the crystal pool. My feet would fain press the silky grass 

 that thrives in shade and spray, where the cascade tumbles 

 into the ravine. Here I listen in vain for the woodpecker's 

 tap or the harsh voice of the bluejay. There is no hum of 

 bees or rasp of " saw-cuts " at work in the decaying log. All 

 is dead, and cold, and drear. The effluvium floats up from 

 the salt marsh, and two wild ducks are winging their way to 

 the ponds beyond. 



Ah well ! this is a raw April day, and perchance its chilly 

 breath has penetrated my soul. Very different is Long 

 Island pond-fishing in June, when the air is warm and balmy. 

 But it is the fashion among the experts of Gotham to take the 

 early fishing here, and one had " better be dead than out of 

 the fashion." I have heard it told of ambitious anglers who 

 ventured to inaugurate the season on the 1st of March, and 

 found the streams all closed by ice, that they did devote 

 much time to games of brag, and loo, and other such devices 

 of the devil, whereby they did little profit themselves, finding 

 also much cause to complain of headaches in the morning. 

 I cannot vouch for my authority, though I deem the charges 

 not improbable, judging from certain manifestations not to 

 be misconstrued on several special occasions. 



Taken all in all, I much doubt if there is any locality 

 where the angler may enjoy his favorite pastime with the 

 same luxurious ease as on Long Island. Very different is 

 the roughing it in the bush, with all its hard vicissitudes. 

 If any stranger desires to test or taste the quality of the fish- 

 ing here, let him first try the Cedar Swamp and New Bridge 

 creeks at Oyster Bay ; then, if time and inclination serve, go 

 on to Patchogue and put up at Austin Eoe's hotel, where 

 he will receive the attentions of a landlord of a thousand 

 acres, who owns rights in nearly all the trout ponds and 

 creeks in the neighborhood. There he can fish ad libitum, 



