The Tragedy of a Barbless Hook 



Dr. Henry Van Dyke would not find it easy to 

 match the trout story which follows, and that's say- 

 ing about all that can be said. Personally I have 

 never read a story of the " square tail " I liked any 

 better than this one from the talented pen of Mr. 

 Clarke Venable, of St. Paul, Minn. 



Mr. Venable writes me : " There is a great day 

 coming for us all when men begin to fish gamely, 

 and then, too, what a day that will leave for the 

 boys who soon will want to go afield and astream." 

 Amen! to that sentiment say we all. 

 When wiser fishermen than I have discussed the 

 art of angling, I have listened and held my tongue. 

 I have remained calm when others have pitted art 

 against results. I have kept my silence and the peace 

 when self-confessed anglers have written of fishing for 

 bass with a five- foot club and a three or five gang 

 plug. I sat in the listener's seat when the learned 

 discussed "Why Bass Strike an Artificial Lure." 

 Through all of this I have passed, and silently gone 

 my way afishing. But when you speak of " Tragic 

 Moments " it is too much. 



I am again following old streams; standing in the 

 deep shadows at the foot of some dark pool; wading 



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