Salmon -Fishing. 447 



At the pools, some distance below the Narrows, are found num- 

 bers of fallen trees, projecting nearly at right angles to the low river- 

 banks. These trees are the occasion, to nearly all anglers, of the 

 loss of a few fish. Poling rapidly under them, while intent upon a 

 running fish, they find their elevated rod within a few inches of the 

 obstruction. On the instant, the rod is thrown forward, and this 

 gives slack line to the fish and enables him to free himself. A second 

 and too late thought tells him, what every one of course knows, that 

 a line from a given point before him on the water to the top of his 

 rod, when held upright, is precisely the same as from the same given 

 point to the top of his rod when it is dropped horizontally in the 

 same vertical plane. Nine times out of ten an inexperienced angler 

 forgets this, and does not quickly throw his rod to the center of the 

 river, as shown in the sketch, and thus preserve his rod and keep a 

 uniform strain upon his fish. 



The old log-house at the Narrows is replete with pleasant remin- 

 iscences. On the pine doors, cupboards, and window-casings are 

 scores and sketches illustrating amusing incidents of life upon a 

 salmon-stream. Sadly we note the names of one or two who, alas ! 

 can never gladden us again with their presence. 



Higgs's well-known copy of Bagster's first edition of " Izaak 

 Walton " is bound in wood from the door of Cotton's fishing-house, 

 " taken off by Mr. Higgs, near the lock, where he zuas sure Old Izaak 

 ynust have touched it." Following out somewhat this conceit, we 

 made our sketches and notes upon the soft bark of some of the old 

 birches that overlooked our quarters. 







Till RISC. IKi'M THE I'AIN'IIM. BY WAI.IhK M. BKACKETT, 



