PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 213 



and who find their highest enjoyment in killing 

 trout in the most improbable places. 



It was not until the 25th of May that the bud- 

 ding flowers and fruit-tree blossoms gave token that 

 the time had come when one might hope for suc- 

 cess in angling in these prolific waters. It was a 

 pleasant day, clear and sunny, just such a day as 

 one likes to have when starting out upon a journey, 

 whether of business or of pleasure. A brief run 

 to Whitehall, and a quiet night-ride through Lake 

 Champlain brought us to Plattsburg, the gate-way 

 to the wilderness. 



The road from thence to the Saranac lake, twenty 

 miles by rail and thirty-five by wagon over a fair 

 road, opens up a constant succession of grand 

 mountain views, making the ride one of the most 

 agreeable and picturesque to be found within the 

 compass of the State. 



Martin's hostelry, which has been quadrupled in 

 dimensions since 1 first visited it fifteen years ago, 

 is located at the foot of the lower Saranac, and is 

 one of the two or three really excellent resting- 

 places in the wilderness. My only present objec- 

 tion to it is that it too much resembles, in its ser- 

 vice and appointments, the " first-class " hotels of 

 our more fashionable watering-places. But so we 

 go. No sooner do we find a pleasant place where 

 we can literally " take mine ease in mine inn," and 



