CHAPTER XI 



THE TROUT OF THE DEAD-WATER 



THE trout of the dead-water is a distinct fish. 

 As he has deepened in color and aldermanic pro- 

 portions with the passing of the years, so too he 

 has increased in shyness and resourcefulness. 

 Not every angler can tempt him to rise, nor hook 

 him when he has risen. Furthermore, even when 

 hooked, the dead-water fish is not netted, as many 

 a sad and wise fisherman can testify. The dead- 

 water trout is quite apt to be a solitary fish, 

 though when the pool is large and deep several 

 fish may inhabit the same "swim." Be it said, 

 however, if the angler hopes to take more than 

 one large fish from the same pool, he must move 

 with circumspection and great slyness; indeed, 

 let him not mourn overmuch if he succeed in tak- 

 ing only one of the speckled grandfathers. 

 Though finical, slow to rise, and suspicious, the 

 aged fontinalis is in nowise decrepit, a victim of 

 senile decay; rather, once hooked, he manifests 

 a strength and resourcefulness which bodes ill 



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