GEORGE DAWSON. 61 



mate "you talk enthusiastically about this new fish, 

 which never exceeds two pounds in weight; did you ever 

 take a salmon?" 



"No, but " 



"Well, I have, and the grayling may be a good little 

 fish for those who have never hooked bigger game ; but it 

 seems rather small to one who has taken a salmon." 



This was a setback from an enthusiastic angler, and, 

 after pulling myself together, I ventured to suggest 

 that his angling literature, as far as I had read it, rather 

 placed the weight and number of fish in the background, 

 and that, as the originator of the saying that "it is not all 

 of fishing to fish," I had thought that the newly discovered 

 grayling might interest him. He saw the point at once, 

 became interested in the fish and went to Michigan to 

 take them, an account of which can be found in his "An- 

 gling Talks," published by Forest and Stream in 1883 a 

 most interesting little work, full of flavor of the woods and 

 waters. 



Mr. Dawson died February 17, 1883, after a few days' 

 illness, aged seventy years. His life had been such an 

 active one, and as a political leader he was so prominent, 

 that his death produced a profound sensation. The Al- 

 bany Argus, politically opposed to Mr. Dawson, said of 

 him: "To journalism this man bore no undistinguished 

 relation. He was a ready, wise, dangerous writer. He 

 was a Greek to be feared when he came bearing presents. 

 * * * He was very able in stating a case for a party; 

 he was even abler in stating a case against a party. He 

 was ablest in giving a man either a fatal defence or a fatal 

 attack. His genius ran to combat; battle was his ele- 

 ment. Routine tired him. Peace gave him a sense of 

 ennui" 



About five months before his death he retired from his 



