250 PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 



rod, and the trout struggling and leaping amid 

 rapids dashing and foaming among jagged rocks 

 that is an experience which lifts the angler " into 

 the seventh heaven," and gives him such exhila- 

 rating excitement that it remains to him a pleas- 

 ant memory and " a joy forever." This is the 

 sort of sport I always have at Setting Pole rapids, 

 and never in larger or more perfect measure than 

 during this present visit. Here are a few illustra- 

 tions of the past and present : 



A few years ago, before the dam was built, to 

 reach the best points for casting it was necessary to 

 stand upon some one of the numerous bowlders 

 which lifted themselves above the water at the 

 head of the rapids. When the water was well up, 

 these standpoints were only reached over extempo- 

 rized bridges composed of a single sapling extend- 

 ing from rock to rock, and often crossed at the 

 hazard of a chilling plunge in the foaming rapids. 

 I had reached the point I desired a rock about 

 the size and shape of a chair-bottom and slippery 

 as ice from the wetted moss which covered its sur- 

 face. On either side of it the water was six feet 

 deep and very rapid. It was a hazardous stand 

 from which to cast, but the most coveted within a 

 circuit of thirty miles. After creeling a dozen very 

 handsome fish, I resolved, with a feeling which 

 anglers will appreciate, upon " just one cast more." 



