FISHING REMINISCENCES. 295 
inhabitants? The moment before his unwelcome presence 
is known thousands of fish sport themselves, but on his 
advent being published not an indication can be noted that 
aught else tenants the water save this amphibious animal. 
After taking a due survey, I started upward, following the 
margin of the stream. In less than a mile I found its gen- 
eral characteristics changed, and from a steady, rapid cur- 
rent it became a boiling, seething cataract. Again its char- 
acter changed, and large sombre-looking pools interrupted 
its precipitous course. How I longed for a rod! It re- 
quired much less experience than mine to be aware that 
this was a magnificent fishing-ground. Salmon rose on all 
sides, pitching themselves clear of the water, and making it 
fly in spray like the splash of a heavy stone. I had beheld 
enough to satisfy the most fastidious, and with hurried 
steps I retraced my way, brimful with what I had seen, and 
anxious to convey the important information to my kind 
and worthy acquaintance, the captain. 
That evening we discussed our plans, MacGregor being 
in excellent spirits, having found that the ship’s leak could 
easily be stopped, and that the injury was far from serious. 
As he was his own employer, he thought he would indulge 
in a little recreation, and set his men to painting, sail-mak- 
ing, and all those minor éé ceteras so constantly wanted on 
board ship, while we in company flogged the river or oth- 
erwise enjoyed ourselves. That night we sat up later than 
usual, and fishing excursions for years gone by were dis- 
cussed; tales told of the first blood we had drawn, of the 
largest fish we had captured, and where they had succumbed 
to our prowess. Old, musty, moth-eaten fly-hooks and feath- 
ers, that appeared as if they had not seen the light of day 
for years, were produced from his numerous lockers, and as 
they were examined, and various pages turned over, numer- 
ous were the anecdotes narrated in connection with each, 
