120 Sporting Sketches 



the sum to prove it. If you moved into a house just 

 vacated by a doctor and found a small vial contain- 

 ing some unknown mixture, would you swallow that 

 mixture just to learn if it were deadly or harmless? 

 And in this connection, be not too readily guided 

 by the statements of that too-prevalent old reprobate 

 who is forever yarning of the old-time fishing and 

 the heroic manner in which he and his friend just 

 ploughed through everything and got wet every day 

 from heels to midriff. It's just possible that he may 

 be a fluent liar, because rumor saith that anglers 

 are not exempt. 



Because wading is the best way to get trout, and 

 downstream the best way to wade, I do both, but 

 before starting I do several other things which are 

 rather important. The first of these is to don all- 

 wool underwear and thick woollen socks, because 

 they are the best-known safeguards against a chill 

 or taking cold. Over the woollen wear should go a 

 gray flannel shirt, or sweater, and any old pair of gray 

 trousers. If the weather demands it, an old gray 

 coat should be added, while for the head there is 

 nothing so good as an old, soft, gray felt hat an 

 old " Fedora," or a " wide-awake," is the very thing. 

 Either of these will properly shade the eyes a 

 needful thing on sunlit water and at the same 

 time furnish a convenient place for the supply of 

 hooks. For the feet, especially during the early 

 season, there is nothing better than the rubber 

 waders, which come well up to the fork and fit 

 snugly to the thigh. They may be turned down to 

 below the knee, which greatly aids one to cool off 

 upon a warm day. 



