F L Y-F ISHING IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER 



Gills varied slightly from Mendy in his rig, by 

 having on a pair of breeches buckled just below 

 the knee-joint, and made out of trousers that 

 had done good every-day service for a year or two. 

 The Doctor had on a pair of fishing-shoes made 

 to order, and fitting loosely, but aptly, as the chaf- 

 ing of an ill-fitted shoe would soon scrape a hole 

 in the waterproof material. 



They each had on such old coats and headgear 

 as came most handy to them. They were not dan- 

 dies, either at home or on the stream. They were 

 hard-working, earnest, ardent rodsters, who knew 

 that a full creel meant work, and skilled labor at 

 that ; that it was a matter of muscle and nice judg- 

 ment; and that a keen eye, a quick nerve, and 

 delicate handling were the essential gifts of a suc- 

 cessful fly-caster, and that these qualities did not 

 centre in the foot or body garb of the wading 

 angler. 



Every fruitful spot or likely pool, rapid, or 

 eddy^of the Schuylkill for a mile above and below 

 camp was known to these fishermen; but as each 

 place was changeable in its outcrop, there was never 

 any difficulty among the members of the club as 

 to the choice of grounds when they chanced to 

 fish together. Indeed, as it happened on this occa- 

 sion, they would angle down stream in company 

 -one near the left bank, one on the right, and 

 the third in midstream; and it was a beautiful and 



85 



