THE AMERICAN TROUT. 23 



fishermen of the neighborhood. That was before the 

 stream was preserved for the benefit of the " Poor 

 Indian," and poorer fishermen mulcted, as at present, in 

 five dollars a day for the privilege of fishing. We drove 

 to the stream, almost six miles, Teasedale enlivening the 

 early Jime morning with snatches of hunting songs, and 

 when there j)lunged recklessly in. Oh ! but the water 

 was cold — a dozen large springs poured in their freezing 

 contents — ^and the blood fairly crept back to our hearts. 

 The stream ran through a narrow defile, overhung with 

 the thickly tangled vine and creepers, rendering a cast 

 of the liae impossible, and had worked its way far under 

 the steep banks, making dark watery caverns, where the 

 great fish could lie in wait for their prey. We removed 

 the upper joint of our fly-rod, which was heavy and 

 strong, and leaving the line through the last ring of the 

 second joint, we put on a bait next to the fiy in beauty 

 and effect, the minnow. The water was , freezing cold — 

 the closely entwined boughs and leaves shut out the heav- 

 ens above, and we were alone in the shadowy darkness 

 with the tenants of the deep. The herring frequented 

 the brook, and pursued by the large trout, darted in 

 shoals l^tween our feet. It is always a good sign when 

 the herring are running, and we had excellent luck. 



There are several ways of putting on a minnow, and 

 if a person from ignorance or necessity must poach, let 

 him poach well. There is the gorge-hook loaded with 

 lead, the snell passed by the baiting needle^ at the mouth 

 of the bait and out at thje tail, bringing the hooks which 

 are double at the mouth. It is highly recommended by 

 some English books and their American imitators, but 



