113 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



is called the black state, which is the intermediate one be- 

 tween the former and that of their ordinary limpidness and 

 purity. The red or muddy state, they say, renders the 

 trout sick, and in the blacli they return to more than their 

 usual appetite. A heavy summer shower is favourable for 

 catching trout. Anglers tell us, that it beats the fly into 

 the water, and prevents the fishes from perceiving the dis- 

 tinction between the real and artificial: and, as to be wet- 

 ted to the skin is nothing to those who are really fond of 

 the sport, great quantities are often taken during these 

 showers. 



Some imagine, there is little or no art in angling, but 

 that the whole consists in drawing out the fish, after it has 

 fixed itself to the fatal hook. That there is something more 

 than this, however, and that both skill and dexterity are 

 necessary to success, is proved from a fact known to all. 

 Experienced anglers will catch numbers, while, in the 

 same part of the stream, and under similar circumstances in 

 other respects, those who are inexperienced, though they 

 may get many a nibble, will not catch one. 



The well known methods of catching fish, consist of net- 

 ting, snaring, bobbing, and angling with rod, hook and line, 

 and variety of baits, living, artificial, or dead; and in the 

 United States is not confined to particular places, but in 

 every river, creek, brook, pond or lake, with which the 

 country is so well provided, and the fish which claim the 

 most attention of those who follow it as a sport, are the 

 salmon, trout, rockfish, pike, chub, perch, catfish, eels, 

 sunfish and roach, besides others which are peculiar to the 

 lakes. The salmon is both a fresh and salt-water fish, and 

 divides its time pretty equally between the two, but is 

 more generally confined to the north, or climates of low 

 temperature. When they have once entered a river, their 

 progress is not easily stopped, frequently ascending those 

 of the greatest length, and remarkable for their rapidity 

 and strong vortexes. They always have their heads to the 

 stream; and their muscular power must be very great, as 

 they shoot up the rapids with the velocity of arrows. They 

 are sensitive and delicate in the extreme, and equally avoid 

 water that is turbid or tainted, and that which is dark with 

 woods, or any other shade. They serve as a sort of wea- 

 ther glasses, as they leap and sport above the surface of the 

 water, before rain or wind; but during violent weather, 

 especially if there be thunder, they keep close to the bot- 

 tom ; and they either hear better than many other species 

 of fish, or they are more sensible to these concussions of 

 the air produced by sound, as any loud noise on the bank 

 throws them into a state of agitation. When their progress 

 is interrupted by a cascade, they make wonderful efibrtsto 

 surmount it by leaping; and as they continue to do that at 

 places which a salmon has never been known to ascend, 



their instinct cannot be to go to the particular spot where 

 they were spawned, but simply to some small and shallow 

 stream. 



There is scarcely any time, unless when it thunders, or 

 when the water is thick with mud, but you may chance to 

 tempt the salmon to rise to an artificial fly. But the most 

 propitious are critical moments; or, undoubtedly, when 

 clearing after a flood, the water has turned to a light whey, 

 or rather brown colour; when the wind blows pretty fresh, 

 approaching to a mackerel gale, against the stream or course 

 of the river; when the sun shines through showers, or 

 when the cloudy rack runs fast and thick, and at intervals 

 discovers the pure blue ether from above. In these situa- 

 tions of the water and of the weather, you may always de- 

 pend upon excellent sport. 



The most diiScult thing for a beginner, is to throw the 

 line far, neatlj^, and to make the fly _^r*/ touch the water. 

 A few attentive trials will, however, bring him to do it 

 with dexterity. 



It should always be across the river, and on the far side, 

 when you expect the fish to rise. If he appears, do not be 

 too eager to strike, but give him time to catch the fly ; then, 

 with a gentle twist, fix the hook in his lip or mouth; if he 

 is hooked in a bone, or feels sore, he will shoot, spring and 

 plunge, with so much strength and vehemence, as to make 

 the reel run with a loud whizzing noise, and your arms to 

 shake and quiver most violently. In this situation, take 

 out the line from the winch quickly, though with compo- 

 sure, keeping it always at the same time stretched, but yet 

 ever ready to yield to his leaping. Do not let it run to any 

 great length, as it is then apt to be unmanageable, but rather 

 follow him, and if he comes nearer, you retire, and wind 

 up as fast as possible, so as to have the line tight, and hold 

 your rod nearly in a perpendicular situation. When he 

 becomes calmer, he often turns sullen, and remains motion- 

 less at the bottom of the water. Then cast a few stones 

 upon the spot where you think he is, and this, in all proba- 

 bility, will rouse him from his inactive position. Be cau- 

 tious in the lifting and the throwing of them, as the salmon 

 may spring at that instant, and brealc your tackle, should 

 you be ofl' your guard. Being again in motion, he gene- 

 rally takes his way up the current: do not then check him, 

 as by this way his strength will be the sooner exhausted. 

 When, now fatigued, and no longer able to keep his direc- 

 tion, he once more tries all his wiles in disengaging himself 

 from the guileful and hated hook; he crosses and recrosses, 

 sweeps and flounces through every part of the pool or 

 stream; but, finding all his efforts to be vain, he at last, 

 indignant at his fate, with immense velocity, rushes head- 

 long down the stream. If the ground is rough or uneven, 

 or if you cannot keep pace with him, give him line enough, 



