428 Reminiscences of 



I once secured a 9 ^-pounder from the apron below the 

 Upper Dam some fifteen years ago, which came over 

 the fall of the dam above and was left dry on the apron 

 logs. The logs of the apron were separated somewhat, 

 allowing the water to pass through as it flowed over 

 the dam. I was some distance off. and saw the 

 commotion on the apron, which I first thought was my 

 Skye terrier at play, as he frequented the spot; but 

 succeeded in arriving at the apron and in securing the 

 fish as he had almost reached the end of the apron and 

 was about to drop into the water below. I have seen eels 

 of 10 and 12 lbs. weight caught securely between the 

 logs of that old apron, which came over the dam at 

 night, large, lusty, black-backed and yellow-bellied fel- 

 lows, which had doubtless done their share in ravag- 

 ing the lakes. 



I remember well this large trout, the 11 -pounder, 

 which for several years in the autumn came to the 

 same place in a moderate swirl of water above a 

 dam, where in his mighty solitude — for he seemed 

 quite alone — ^he would signify his presence occasionally 

 by an uplifting at the surface which would make an 

 angler's heart quake. He became the target of many 

 ambitious efforts, both of fly-casters and bait-dabblers, 

 but maintained a dignified and conservative indiffer- 

 ence. In a quiet surface and with the sun's rays in a 

 favorable quarter he was often observed either in 

 quiet meditation or slowly taking his constitutional 

 promenade. In vain were flies sunk for his con- 

 venience, and equally vain were the tidy worms 

 and natty grasshoppers trailed before his majestic 

 presence. Some vowed he was 3 ft. long, that his 

 mouth was large enough to take in a black duck, and 



