THE SPLIT BAMBOO FLY- RODS. 333 



when the thoughts wander back to the land of your 

 nativity ! But Doctor Clerk has seen me enter, and 

 here he comes with a good-natured smile on his face, 

 which I know predicts an invitation to lunch ; if I had 

 eaten ten previously that day I will accept it ; for 

 from the Doctor I shall learn more of salmon fishing, as 

 well as of the habits and peculiarities of Mr. Salmo 

 Salar, than from any one I ever met. The Doctor, 

 who is quite a naturalist, has killed salmon from his 

 own native Scotch stream to the rivers that enter the 

 Pacific ; of late years he has wandered less, still no 

 season passes without his finding his way to Nova 

 Scotia, New Brunswick, or Labrador. Eeport says that 

 he can beat all comers at throwing a long and light line. 

 I know that few, very few, can tie such a perfect 

 salmon- fly. After the Doctor and self have greeted 

 one another, we pass on, taking a casual look at what 

 appears most attractive. American reels, of which 

 there appears an immense stock, excite much my 

 admiration, they are all so superiorly finished. One 

 that I am shown, but is not for sale, and is the first 

 ever made, is constructed out of pure aluminium ; the 

 mechanism is perfect, the weight is a mere trifle, 

 and there is no amount of exposure will cause it to 

 corrode. 



The Yankees are wondrous smart fellows ; their wits 



