A mericaii Game- Fishes 



the uneven water, he is able to make out 

 the resting-place of a fish quite dispropor- 

 tioned to the shallow, clear stream. His 

 soundest leader and his most taking fly are 

 put out. He watches its curving journey 

 down the pool. Foot by foot he length- 

 ens the cast, until he knows the fish has 

 seen the lure. One after another he offers 

 the most enticing wares of Kelso or of 

 Sprouston, and adds thereto bizarre crea- 

 tions of his own without effect. The fish 

 has run the gantlet of scores of pools, and 

 knows the contents of the fly-book as well 

 as its owner. The angler's arm, soft from 

 the winter's disuse, begins to tire. The 

 fly falls with less grace, and sidles down the 

 water as if it were as discouraged as he ; 

 when around it what a swirl, as half a 

 bronze-black head shows for an instant 

 above the surface ! What wonder that 

 many a novice is paralyzed by stage-fright. 

 It is well if his gaffer sets up his rod in 

 time, and brings him to his senses. He 

 will need them all. 



The struggle need not be told, the 

 runs, the retrieval of the line, the leaps 

 and sulks, and all the devices of the ex- 

 cited fish ; nor yet the counter-manoeuvres 

 of the angler and his surprising rushes with 

 rod high in air over places through which 



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