American Game-Fishes 



bait enough. Upon the finest of drawn- 

 gut leaders we put a couple of dark midge- 

 flies, and as a stretcher a small hook of 

 fine wire (No. 6 Aberdeen is about right). 

 Bait this with the smallest of shrimps ; for 

 the herrings are still running, and are 

 likely to be along with the perch. Your 

 fresh-run herring is dainty ; no coarse 

 tackle nor large baits for him. A strong 

 southwest wind has blown off* the hot 

 mists of the morning, the sky is clear 

 with snowy cumuli, and the sun bright ; 

 but we need not, after all, throw off our 

 coats. The broad meadow is encircled 

 with rich-colored oaks of small size, and 

 on one side the pasture-land slopes up 

 above them. Through the green the 

 creek wanders, as if determined to stay 

 within it as long as possible. Here and 

 there a straight branch shows that at some 

 time man has tried his hand at topography, 

 and sends us a long way around. 



Not too near the bank, now. Or, if 

 you cannot cast up against the wind so far, 

 crawl up and cast kneeling. Not here 

 to-day ! These little migrations are among 

 the charms of this fishing. Many usual 

 haunts may be tried fruitlessly before the 

 fish are found, but if found they are likely 

 to be in force ; they are social creatures. 

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