EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 53 



It is now only eleven o'clock. I must try 

 for a bigger and a better one. I have grown 

 rather inclined to despise the smaller fry ; 

 half-pounders have no longer much attraction 

 for me. I have observed in this transparent 

 water that there be diversities of temper and 

 disposition among trout. Some are aristo- 

 cratic, autocratic, and pugnacious ; some are 

 of a jolly sort, free and easy, but will not 

 submit to be put upon they maintain their 

 ground; others are cowards and slink away 

 at the least threat. I want only one more 

 good fight with a big one like the Yankee 

 rainbow I had yesterday; then I say again, 

 helas ! and I must be gone. I am sorry to 

 say the big rainbow I had my eye upon kept 

 his eye on me, and would not be betrayed. 

 Instead, I got a despised half-pounder that 

 fought a brilliant fight before he came in to 

 be packed in nettles with the big one. Nettles, 

 the master tells me, are the very best things 

 to put round the fish when you consign him 

 to your basket or pack him up to send to 

 your friends. Of course, when I caught my 

 big trout, I remembered the master's advice; 



