A LARGE RIVER TROUT. 7 



ginger-coloured cock's hackle, with light corn-crake 

 wing, tipped with silver; the dropper a large-sized 

 moth. 



" For work at that hour," I hear some internally 

 mutter, " the moth did the business." No, it did not ; 

 cock's hackles of all shades may invariably be backed 

 against the field, and the cock's hackle on this occasion 

 kept up its reputation. Down on my knees in the bow 

 of the canoe, the camp-keeper holding her back by a 

 pole in the stern, slowly and cautiously I fished the 

 throat, from thence down into the less angry but wider- 

 spread current, when just as my flies passed over an 

 eddy that divided the downward flow from the back- 

 water, there was a splash rapidly responded to by a 

 nervous quick movement of the wrist, which planted 

 the hook firmly home. I doubt if I exaggerate, in 

 fact I think I scarcely state enough, when I say that 

 thirty minutes elapsed before my trophy could suffi- 

 ciently endure the sight of a landing-net to have it 

 placed under him. Thus was taken the largest river 

 trout (salmo fontinalis) I ever caught. But to my rod ; 

 it was made out of cedar from butt to tip, did not ex- 

 ceed nine ounces, and was the most lively, quick, light 

 casting treasure I ever used. Cedar fly-rods I have 

 heard objected to, because they are brittle ; doubtless 

 you may find them so, and your casting-line also, if 

 you change its use into that of a whip-lash. How- 

 ever much I admire a cedar rod I do not think it suited 

 for a tyro, but when the beginner has gained experi- 

 ence, and is able to offer an opinion and use a fly rod 

 as it should be, I doubt not he will perfectly agree 

 with me. A cedar rod can seldom be purchased ready 

 made, as tradesmen dislike the job ; so if any reader 



