212 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



consequently I had determined to fish no more that 

 day ; still this extraordinary show caused me to break 

 my resolution ; but far better had I stayed at home, 

 for two hours were spent fruitlessly, scarcely having 

 killed a single fish ; when, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, on the same pools, I could have doubly filled 

 my basket. However, this want of success was soon 

 explained, for that evening, an hour after sunset, one 

 of the most severe thunder-storms I ever witnessed 

 took place. A New Yorker, whose fly-book I had the 

 pleasure of lately examining, the contents of which 

 included the most perfectly tied trout-flies I ever 

 saw, and who was reported to be as skilful in hand- 

 ling the rod as he was in making dubbing and 

 feathers represent an insect, informed me that he 

 could always tell by the barometer when fish would 

 feed well ; now, this is a novel use to put this instru- 

 ment to. 



But to my story. I commenced fishing with san- 

 guine expectations, and the issue was commensurate. 

 The third cast I hooked and killed a ten-pounder. 

 Again I went to work, and before many minutes was 

 fast to another, which, after the first run, unfortu- 

 nately escaped, my hold doubtlessly being a bad one. 

 Nothing daunted by the mishap, I was soon again 

 firm in a third fish, and from the strain and headlong 



