138 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



from the more kingly but far more laborious sport 

 which salmon afford. 



There are in these waters brook as well as sea- 

 trout, but they are found mostly in or near the 

 mouths of the small streams emptying into the main 

 river. When we coveted a meal of them, ranging 

 from two to four ounces, we knew just where to 

 find them, and, what is equally important, just how 

 to crisp them. There may be a more delicious dish 

 than small brook-trout properly cooked, just as 

 there may be a more delicious fruit than the straw- 

 berry, but the fact has not yet passed into the 

 annals of modern discovery. 



It may not be out of place nor uninteresting to 

 some of my readers to say, while I think of it, that 

 I took some pains to gather the opinions of our 

 Indian guides on the mooted question, " Do fish 

 hear ? " To my surprise I found that there was 

 but one opinion the negative of the question. 

 And a great many facts were given in support of 

 this opinion, much to my satisfaction, as I have for 

 a long time been fully satisfied that all fish are 

 " deaf as adders." 



This question was amusingly discussed the other 

 day. Having arranged to change camp, we re- 

 quested one of the baggage canoe-guides, who 

 moved off a day in advance of us, to mark two or 

 three spots which he knew to be good casting 



