A Worm's a Worm 51 



eight inches above the water. Even the ferry crossing the 

 lake had the appearance of riding on a platform a few feet 

 in the air. Not a cloud was to be seen, not a ripple in the 

 water, but perfect visibility above the low layer of haze, so 

 that much of the Cascade range and snow-covered Rainier 

 and Glacier Peak were all included in the panorama which 

 rimmed the horizon. 



Usually I had one or two special things planned for the 

 day— some flowers to examine, a nest to search for, or a 

 newly arrived bird to check. But today was free, so I decided 

 to make the grand tour of the bay, which included the cir- 

 cuit of the west side and the newly excavated canal which 

 ran close to the much-traveled highway. Then the passage 

 along the residence district on the north side where garden- 

 ers whistled as they manicured the fine lawns and gardens, 

 past the tiny lighthouse, and over the open water which 

 marked the joining of the bay and lake. Next I would scan 

 the log rafts which floated at anchor for a quarter of a mile 

 on the south side, after which I would direct my canoe 

 through the channels in the Arboretum, and back to the 

 canoehouse— a quiet and peaceful trip of about five miles. I 

 did not anticipate seeing much wildlife on so bright and still 

 a day. But there were more fishermen than usual. Why not 

 forget the birds and mammals and see what the anglers were 

 catching and how they were doing it? 



Not that it was much of an area for fishing. But plenty of 

 people visited it, nevertheless. Few were lucky. They were 

 the ones who had a feeling for, and a knowledge of, fishing. 

 But, whether lucky or unlucky, many came often, perhaps 

 with the hope that the next trip would see a turn for the 

 better. The attraction of certain locations for fishermen has 

 always impressed me. That day it recalled the men whom 

 De Maupassant described in his story, "A Fishing Excursion." 

 The two Frenchmen had often fished together before the 

 Franco-Prussian war and, when they accidentally met during 



