TROUT FISHING. 267 



worthy of ol)a'.n'vation that very early in the season the bait is more 

 killing than ths fly, but that from May to the end of the season the fly- 

 fisher will fill his creel when the bait-fisher will go empty-handed home. 



In the salt creeks the fish take the fly far less willingly than the bait ; 

 and in Carman's Creek, which is very decidedly the best Trout river 

 on Long Island, it is said that there is but one example of a fish being 

 killed with the fly, by an old friend of my own, Mr. Luxford, formerly 

 of H. M.'s Royal Dragoons, in whose eye, should this meet it, these 

 words may awaken not unpleasant reminiscences of his visit to the 

 United States, and of his many, many sporting rambles with Frank 

 Forester. 



In Carman's River the largest fish in America are, I think it will 

 be allowed, mostly caught, running often quite up to five lbs. weight, 

 and I fully believe that if it were fished patiently and resolutely, espe- 

 cially at the gray twilight, or in the shimmering moon-shine quite 

 down to the bay, through the salt meadows, with a small Trout on good 

 spinning-tackle with three swivels, or with a very large gaudy fly, sunk 

 by means of a shot to several inches below the surface, fish might be 

 taken of seven or eight pounds weight. After Long Island fishing is 

 nearly at an end, commences, and continues quite until September, 

 that in the crystal streams of the Southern New York counties, in the 

 Pennsylvanian streams, and even later in the waters of the Adirondaeh 

 Highlands and later yet at the Sault St. Marie. 



The Juniata, the Wyoming, the upper Delaware, the upper Alle- 

 ghany and the upper Susquehannah swarm with fish, as well as all 

 their tributaries. The former rivers, and many another equally fine 

 streams in the Alleghany and Blue ridges, are within easy striking dis- 

 tance of Philadelphia; all the waters of the Delaware and Susquehan- 

 nah rivers can be reached in a day from New York, by the Morris 

 and Erie railroad ; nor is there any lovelier or more romantic region, 

 nor any waters dearer to the angler, than those which are now opened 

 to the world by that noble avenue which is already complete so far as 

 to Owego, and which will soon link with its iron chain, Erie and all 

 the upper lakes to the Atlantic sea-board. 



Hamilton County and its splendid fishing-grounds may be reached 

 in many ways from New York, via Albany. From Caldwell's on 

 Lake George, from Lake Champlain by the Saranac, from Schenec- 



