CHAPTER XIV 



News has come "The Fish are up" I have a mind to test 

 my Lines again 



Is there any sport the fascination of which lays such 

 a tenacious hold upon its votaries so long before 

 the season opens as does that of salmon fishing ? 

 The tail of the autumn army of fishers has scarcely 

 rounded the bend before there are sounds and signs 

 that tell of the winter angler's preparations for a 

 start. So enthralling is the pursuit of this king 

 of river fishes that right good fellows, who would 

 scorn to mislead others, humbug themselves al- 

 most beyond belief merely to justify their getting 

 ready for it. 



Preparing for my outings has occupied untold 

 hours during which too pressing matters have been 

 forgotten and I have been as happy as in those 

 times when I was making sails for dug-out chunks 

 of wood. 



" You see the ways a fisherman doth take 

 To catch the fish, what engines he doth make ; 

 Behold how he engageth all his wits, 

 Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks and nets." 



I think time well spent in making a fly or working 

 on a thought-out notion that may improve the 

 simplest detail of my outfit and the attempt to 

 effect such purpose has been a pleasing effort even 

 when failure has ended it. I was quick to discover 

 faults in the tackle of thirty years ago but slow to 



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