193 THE THOUSAND ISLES. 



spin n ing tackle from the others. I then took out a 

 twelve-foot salmon leader, or casting-line, as our friends 

 across the water express it, and fastened on it, at equal 

 distances, five large flies, the upper dropper and tail-flies 

 being dressed with white and ibis feathers mixed on a 

 large sized salmon hook, while the intermediate ones were 

 small, dark colored salmon flies. This leader, thus 

 equipped, being fastened to one line, and a similar one, 

 except that a small, gay spoon replaced the tail-fly, to 

 the other, they were trolled thirty or forty yards astern, 

 so that they sank well as we moved slowly along. Then, 

 leaving the quiet bays, with their sluggish current and 

 weedy bottom, we struck out boldly into the rapid w r ater 

 and sought the rocky shoals where black bass love to 

 hide and wait. 



The wind had increased till there was quite a sea, and 

 it was difficult to manage the boat ; but that was soon 

 forgotten in the excitement. The fish were numerous and 

 in excellent disposition ; every shoal we crossed furnished 

 us with several ; we often took two or three at a time, 

 and occasionally had both lines engaged at once. They 

 were brave, vigorous and determined ; madly they darted 

 forward on feeling the hook, and threw themselves high 

 out of water to shake it from their mouths ; finding that 

 vain, they made rush after rush to escape, again and 

 again they leaped in the air, resolute and courageous to 

 the last ; not till they were in the net would they sur- 

 render. 



Strange it was to note the different shades of their 

 colors. Their deep sides, for they are an awkward-looking 

 fish, and their shape gives little indication of their 



