208 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



enjoyments when the whole nation was in tears, 

 when ten thousand Rachels were weeping for 

 their children, and when the shadow of death 

 hung like a pall over the whole land. So, from 

 that time to this I have made no record of these 

 delightful excursions. Although I have been thus 

 silent for so many years, with the exception of a 

 single summer (of sad memory), I have been per- 

 mitted to enjoy my month's sport, always awaiting 

 its coming with longing, and always entering upon 

 it with new zest and ever-growing pleasure. 



It was weary waiting this year for " the time of 

 the singing of birds " to come. The spring was 

 more backward than for twenty years. The snow 

 lingered in the woods until far on in May, and it 

 was not until the middle of the month that experi- 

 enced anglers deemed it worth while to wet their 

 lines in any of the waters of the Adirondacks. For 

 be it known to all novices in the art, and to all 

 who hope to become used to the ways of trout, and 

 experts in their capture, that the best sport only 

 comes after the snow-water has disappeared and the 

 streams have acquired their natural clearness and 

 placidity. High water is not desirable, even for 

 spring fishing ; but it is not fatal to success. One 

 has only to know the ground he traverses, and the 

 best points at different seasons, to gather success 

 even with full banks; but a flood is not to be 



