498 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



above high-water mark, and his ''provender" wrapped in a 

 large napkin or handkerchief, and slung over his shoulder 

 he is ready for a start. If it is the intention of the party to 

 go up the stream, a bottle of claret or ale may be added. 

 After selecting a place of rendezvous, the pack may be hid 

 close by in the bushes, or in an old stump, or a hollow log, 

 and the party can then go up and fish down stream to the 

 " cache," making the distance and time suitable. On arriving 

 at the place for dinner, select a suitable location for building 

 the fire, and place rods and creels to the windward. While 

 some are gathering wood and building the fire, let others col- 

 lect a few clean flat stones for plates, and put them in a posi- 

 tion before the fire to warm properly. If you wish a roast, 

 select the smallest fish, those under nine inches are best; 

 scour them well in sand, wash them clean, and open them, 

 but allow no water to touch the inside, as the blood and 

 natural juices of the fish should be retained as far as possible ; 

 cut off the heads, score them (not too deeply), and pepper 

 and salt them well inside and out. Cut one or more branches 

 (sweet birch is best), with as many twigs or shoots on them 

 as is required for the number of fish to be roasted, and stick 

 a fish on each twig, either end foremost, running the twig 

 along the upper side of the backbone, and hold them to the 

 fire. By keeping an eye on the inside of your fish, it is 

 easy to ascertain when they are done. Always take them off 

 with a twist or wrench, to disengage the twig from the flesh, 

 and lay them on a hot stone, buttering them while warm. 



In baking or steaming them under the coals and ashes do 

 not cut off the heads, but season them, and then take a piece 

 of strong thin paper and smearing it thinly with butter, roll 

 a fish in it, and then envelope it in five or six plies of coarse 

 straw paper; after saturating each fish so encased in the 

 stream, lay them side by side in a bed of hot ashes and coals ; 

 cover them up, and give a minute to an inch : that is, if a fish 



