78 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



dropped as bait is ordinarily dropped in still fish- 

 ing ? The general absence of food from the stom- 

 ach is seemingly conclusive of the total abstinence 

 theory ; but better believe anything marvelous or 

 improbable than that a salmon lives through six 

 months or any number of months of the year in a 

 state of constant activity, and during the exhaustive 

 process of generation, without imbibing any par- 

 ticle of food. It it just as improbable that it does 

 so as it would be unnatural. 



But I have neither the wish nor the knowledge 

 requisite to enter upon an intelligent discussion 

 of any of the habits or peculiarities of this fish. 

 This is neither the purpose nor the intent of these 

 rambling letters. 



In my last I referred to some of the more note- 

 worthy incidents which occurred to Gen. AKTHUE. 

 Others had almost equally exciting experiences. 

 None of our party had greater skill, or were made 

 happy by greater success, than Mr. DUN. He kept 

 even pace with the General, and often distanced 

 myself. Of course I attributed this to his longer 

 practice; it could have been nothing else! But 

 while he had his successes he also had his mis- 

 haps. The most notable was this : He had hooked 

 a very large fish at the camp-pool, which began the 

 fight magnificently. I never saw a fish leap more 

 spitefully or make more determined efforts to 



