SALMONID^. 25 



streams are generally more romantic than those localities 

 where salmon are caught ; because being tributaries of the 

 larger rivers, they are situated higher up among the mount- 

 ain sources ; they are farther from the salt air of the ocean, 

 and in a rarer and purer atmosphere ; they are generally 

 more accessible to civilization ; and they traverse regions more 

 hospitable, where game is found in greater variety and abun- 

 dance, where the forests are denser and teem with bird and 

 insect life. And finally, as regards those ambidextrous ex- 

 perts who afiFect to regard trout-fishing as the inferior art and 

 beneath tlieir attention, I will simply revenge myself by 

 quoting from Francis Francis, the astute observer, who says : 

 "A good trout-fisher will easily become an expert at salmon- 

 fishing: but a very respectable practitioner with the sal- 

 mon-rod will often have all his schooling to do afresh, should 

 he descend to trout-fishing, before he can take rank as a mas- 

 ter of the art." 



IV. 



There are some kinds of fish, comely in appearance, bold 

 biters, and rather successful torturers of fine tackle, which 

 are styled game-fish and angled for as such, but which by no 

 means deserve the name and reputation. Such customers 

 may possibly "pass in a crowd," as the shabby genteel frequent- 

 ly do among the masses of human society. But the superior 

 qualities and attributes of the true game-fish are readily de- 

 tected. 



Define me a gentleman and I will define you a " game" 

 fish ; " which the same" is known by the company he keeps, 

 and recognized by his dress and address, features, habits, in- 

 telligence, haunts, food, and manner of eating. The true 

 game-fish, of which the trout and salmon are frequently the 

 types, inhabit the fairest regions of nature's beautiful domain. 

 They drink only from the purest fountains, and subsist upon 

 the choicest food their pellucid streams supply. ISTot to say 



