76 THE SALMON FISHER. 



drenching showers than the birch canoe turned over 

 on the river bank and propped by the paddles 

 against the gunwale. Sometimes it was Larry and 

 Gabe, and sometimes Peter and John prototypes of 

 the ancient fishermen of Galilee and I can almost 

 imagine as I write that I hear the measured click of 

 their iron-shod setting-poles as they steadily prod 

 their arduous way up the rapids and over the shoals. 

 Envious am I of the C4 noonings " we had beside the 

 mouths of the ice cold brooks which flowed into the 

 main river, where a mug of cooled Alsop never 

 tasted so good, or a homely lunch so appetizing. 



It is of the varying moods and tenses of these 

 changeful rivers that I love to think and speak, be- 

 cause it is their intensely specific characteristics 

 ^which make salmon fishing superlative, and of all 

 the piscatory accomplishments the most difficult to 

 learn the most difficult to diagnose and master. I 

 liave great respect for the expert who can handle 

 and boat a mighty tarpum in open sea with rod and 

 reel, or beach and gaff a striped bass from the surf- 

 worn rocks ; nevertheless, no fish that swims is the 

 peer of the salmon, and no angling experience or 



