9 



in pleasant shade, until the sun sinks towards the 

 West, and the work of fishing begins. 



One can fish equally well from bank or boat. 

 The stream sides are grass-bound and flower- 

 decked to the very water edge, affording dry and 

 safe footing, with here and there a fence to lean 

 against, or hang your impedimenta upon, A little 

 to the left of the farmhouse is the orchard, suc- 

 ceeded by a wood of nut and oak trees, which 

 slope to the banks of the lake, and under whose 

 shade bass may be caught at any hour of the day, 

 be the sun ever so hot. The water here is deep 

 and cool, and I use it as a swimming ground. It 

 is also a fine place to cool drinks in. A bottle of 

 Piper Heidsieck or a bottle or two of beer slung 

 into the depths of the pool with a stout cord, can be 

 drawn up an hour later cool as a snow stream in 

 the mountains. A little distance above a rustic 

 bridge spans the stream, under and on either side 

 of which, just in the shadow line, a dozen or more 

 fine bass, weighing up to four pounds each, may 

 be seen at any time. As one crosses the bridge 

 they raise their weather-eye a'nd look up, but do - 

 not move, whilst hundreds of young bass, an inch 

 or two in length, shoot from the innumerable crev- 

 ices like so many fresh- water shiners. The very 

 foundation of the bridge seems to be alive with 

 them. There are also a number of giant sun-fish here 

 which seldom refuse a bait. At daybreak on fine 

 mornings, when camping there for a day or two, I 

 have caught in less than an hour half a dozen two- 



