160 FLY-FISHING IN MAINE LAKES. 



at the end of a hard-fought battle had the satisfac- 

 tion of saving them both, two beautiful fish fresh 

 run from the lake. 



And now let me pause here, and tell you why I 

 prefer this fishing to that of the salmon-trout; and 

 while I would not detract from the latter sport, and 

 can appreciate the shake of the head from those 

 who have enjoyed year after year only trout-fishing, 

 I am free to say, having had many years' experience 

 in both, the land-locked salmon is my preference 

 now and forever. 



Catching a little inspiration from the immortal 

 bard, and parodying one of his lines, I state it 



thus : 



The leap, the leap's the thing 

 Wherein I call the land-locked salmon, king. 



I once took a fish above the dam in smooth 

 water, weighing about two pounds, that made nine 

 successive leaps varying from three to six feet clear 

 from the water, and all within five minutes' time. 



This was witnessed by my wife, who was in the 

 canoe with me, and who counted the leaps, and by 

 others who were fishing near us. 



No salmon-trout ever did that, nor ever will. It 

 is seldom that the trout goes out of water after 

 coming out to take the fly (Mr. Murray to the con- 

 trary notwithstanding) : his tendency is toward the 



