96 THE SALMON. 



a general rod, but two rods distinct with joints fitting to 

 each other. Take with you two good lines, plenty ol 

 flies, extra gut and hooks, leaders and feathers, and a 

 etrong hook gaff, but not that dangerous, unwieldy 

 instrument called a spring gaff. Thus equipped, go forth 

 conquering and to conquer, and may good luck attend 

 you. Seek any of the rivers we shall name, ascend 

 them in your fragile canoe, station yourself early in the 

 morning or at the approach of evening, choose your best 

 fly, keep well out of view, cast far and light, and may 

 you many and many a time be rewarded with the fierce 

 rush of the mighty salmon, his struggle and final con- 

 quest, and may your sleep be sound and your heart at 

 rest amid nature's primeval hills. May the black flies 

 and mosquitoes spare you. may the sand-fly not find you 

 out, may the heat be tempered to you by day and the 

 cold by night, may you not lose your footing too often, 

 nor fall too hard, and may your fish be the largest, 

 strongest and bravest that ever were taken. May you 

 receive that mercy which you show, never drawing one 

 drop of useless blood, nor causing one unnecessary pang. 

 The aid of all good men and true is needed both by 

 precept and example, to save the tenants of the water 

 from final extermination. By putting restraint upon 

 ourselves, never being guilty of wanton slaughter, by 

 steadily urging measures for the preservation of the 

 game, and by invariably obeying and compelling others 

 to obey such laws as should be passed, we may be able to 

 leave to our children a heritage of pleasure that bountiful 

 nature has abundantly provided for ourselves. No fish 

 are more defenceless and more readily destroyed than 



