146 I GO A -FISHING. 



bottom, for three or four miles, until it emerges from the 

 forest and runs through the Burnt Ground. This is a 

 large tract of sandy and rolling country from which all 

 forest has disappeared, probably because of a fire. The 

 river, in a deep ravine, is bordered by thick brush, and for 

 two miles winds in a swift current between hilly sides, so 

 that the angler who commences to whip the stream near 

 Mountain Pond can come out after four or five hours' 

 work within a mile of his starting-point. 



I drove over from Smith's with John and Frank, and, 

 leaving the wagon at a convenient point, went into the 

 river in the morning, not far below Mountain Pond. 



Although there is vastly more pleasure to the experi- 

 enced angler in using a seven-ounce rod, I recommend for 

 work in such a river, among underbrush whose branches 

 and roots often extend into the water, a somewhat heav- 

 ier weapon. I used a rod made of ash, weighing nine or 

 ten ounces, which I call a black-bass rod. It served its 

 purpose well when heavy fish went under the masses of 

 overhanging alder, or dived into bunches of roots, from 

 which only patience and a steady pressure could extract 

 them. 



John took a stout bait-rod and deceived the trout with 

 the tail of a red-fin on a strong hook. I used two flies, 

 on the tail a dark brown, almost black fly, and above a 

 Montreal claret and gray. 



I said I went into the river. I mean what I say. In 

 the early season I am accustomed to wear English wad- 

 ing-stockings, with heavy brogans over them. When the 

 warm weather advances I eschew all rubber coverings. 

 The objection to India-rubber clothing is chiefly that it 

 confines the ordinary insensible perspiration and makes 

 it decidedly sensible. In cool weather it is less unpleas- 



