IN A FISHING COUNTRY 



are not alarmed by slow movements or a 

 light touch, especially when the water is 

 deep. Lead your tired fish alongside 

 canoe or rock, drop the hand very quietly 

 upon his back and slip it with exceeding 

 gentleness up to the gill, close on him 

 quickly and firmly, digging in the thumb, 

 and so lift him out. You will lose fewer 

 big fellows in this manner than a clumsy 

 gaffer will rob you of; but let there be 

 extreme deliberation in every motion of 

 hand and body till the instant comes for 

 the swift unflinching grasp and swing. 



Some fish got away in the heavy water, 

 about which private opinions were — still 

 may be — entertained; but regret is clean 

 out of place, for such is the stuff of which 

 are woven the keenest memories, the live- 

 liest hopes. 



On a propitious day we account four or 

 five great trout no mean reward; we bet- 

 tered this under conditions that seemed im- 

 possible. Though the fish were dispersed 

 to remote and unexpected places, they 

 were eager to take the fly wherever it 

 could be seen upon the turbulent deeply- 

 tinged water. Their apprehensions were 

 at an end; the deluge had done its worst, 

 the flood was abating, they had survived 

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