Fishing in North Carolina. 143 



fish ; still a broken rod, a rotten line, or a faulty 

 hook, can make no amends for the loss of a fine 

 fish and a mellifluent temper. The best is none 

 too good when one considers that in the delights 

 of the peaceful avocation, quality may be of 

 vital importance, for surely peace reigns where 

 one can forget enemies as well as friends. 



It is not necessary to obtain the prettiest nor 

 the costliest tackle ; but I lay great stress on the 

 word test which can only be had at a greater cost 

 than inferior goods, and only from dealers of 

 repute. 



I am not much on canoes, but I am some on 

 boats. I was bom in the canoe age, in a dug-out 

 county, have dug the canoe out of a log myself ; 

 and floated and fished with them, too, neither 

 myself nor the canoe sank whatever the risk 

 run, both rotten perhaps, yet alive in heart. 



The era of the old style canoe (dug-out) 

 however, is past, and the era of a pei*fect wooden 

 boat for fishing purposes has never begun. 



Some months ago I described in the IN'ews 

 and Observer, what I thought to be the best 



