FISHING REMINISCENCES. 295 



inhabitants ? The moment before his unwelcome presence 

 is known thousands of fish sport themselves, but on his 

 advent being published not an indication can be noted that 

 aught else tenants the water save this amphibious animal. 

 After taking a due survey, I started upward, following the 

 margin of the stream. In less than a mile I found its gen- 

 eral characteristics changed, and from a steady, rapid cur- 

 rent it became a boiling, seething cataract. Again its char- 

 acter changed, and large sombre-looking pools interrupted 

 its precipitous course. How I longed for a rod ! It re- 

 quired much less experience than mine to be aware that 

 this was a magnificent fishing-ground. Salmon rose on all 

 sides, pitching themselves clear of the water, and making it 

 fly in spray like the splash of a heavy stone. I had beheld 

 enough to satisfy the most fastidious, and with hurried 

 steps I retraced my way, brimful with what I had seen, and 

 anxious to convey the important information to my kind 

 and worthy acquaintance, the captain. 



That evening we discussed our plans, MacGregor being 

 in excellent spirits, having found that the ship's leak could 

 easily be stopped, and that the injury was far from serious. 

 As he was his own employer, he thought he would indulge 

 in a little recreation, and set his men to painting, sail-mak- 

 ing, and all those minor et ceteras so constantly wanted on 

 board ship, while we in company flogged the river or oth- 

 erwise enjoyed ourselves. That night we sat up later than 

 usual, and fishing excursions for years gone by were dis- 

 cussed ; tales told of the first blood we had drawn, of the 

 largest fish we had captured, and where they had succumbed 

 to our prowess. Old, musty, moth-eaten fly-hooks and feath- 

 ers, that appeared as if they had not seen the light of day 

 for years, were produced from his numerous lockers, and as 

 they were examined, and various pages turned over, numer- 

 ous were the anecdotes narrated in connection with each. 



