14 THE AMERICAN TROUT. 



for life ; but our legislature is looking into the matter, 

 and there is no telling how soon such statutes may be 

 passed. 



How splendid is the sport, to deftly throw the long 

 line and small fly with the pliant single-handed rod, and 

 with eye and nerve on the strain, to watch the loveliest 

 darling of the wave, the spotted naiad, dart from her 

 mossy bed, leap high into the air, carrying the strange 

 deception in her mouth, and turning in her flight, plunge 

 back to her crystal home, with the cruel hook driven into 

 her lips by a skillful turn of the angler's wrist ; to meet 

 and foil her in her fierce and cunning efforts to escape, 

 paying out the line as she rushes away resistless, meeting 

 her in emergencies firmly and steadily, till the tip crosses 

 the but, when she insists upon reaching the old stump 

 or the weedy bottom ; to slack the line when she leaps 

 into air, trying to strike it with her tail ; and above all, 

 to watch the right moment, and keeping her head well 

 up, to bring the beautiful prize quickly and steadily to 

 the net ! There may be others who have killed more and 

 larger trout than myself, there may be others who can 

 cast a longer line and lighter fly ; but there are none who 

 will work more steadily or who can enjoy it more 

 intensely. 



There are innumerable rules applicable to trout fishing 

 and innumerable exceptions to each; neither man nor 

 fish is infallible. A change of weather is always desir- 

 able : if it has been clear, a rainy day is favorable ; if 

 cold, a warm one ; if the wind has been north, a south- 

 erly one is advantageous ; a zephyr if it has been blowing 

 a tornado. Generally, in early spring, amid the fading 



