STARTING. II 



beside sparkling rivulets ; learn a little of the fish- 

 er's art, and enjoy his homely fare, his hours of ease 

 and nights of rest ; and go back to business with 

 renewed vitality, delightful recollections, and a 

 longer lease of life." And so at last, after much 

 converse, I prevailed upon my friend, and aroused 

 some faint enthusiasm for the excursion. And oh ! 

 how I have heard the young man " enthuse " since 

 that time over the remembrance of that vacation 

 and several others of like nature which we have 

 passed together ! 



I had chosen a new locality. Having fished 

 Moosehead and other smaller Maine lakes with 

 success, I had decided to try the Umbagog waters, 

 and for seven successive seasons, a part with the 

 friend above referred to, have I cast my flies upon 

 the bosom of those charming lakes ; and, with all 

 respect to brother Murray, a most delightful region 

 have I found it. Naturally the outfit of our party 

 fell upon myself, and after-experiences have taught 

 me much in that respect ; and, were I writing for 

 novices, I might give some valuable hints in that 

 direction, a few perhaps, as it is, may not come 

 amiss. And, first of all, wherever you may go for 

 trout, in June or July, take with you a goodly quan- 

 tity of black-fly poison. I have used several kinds ; 

 but decidedly the best I have found is prepared by 



