131 



The barb is felt, and maddened with the pain the noble 

 animal seeks to relieve himself, and makes successive 

 dashes clean out of the water ; the dash of the tail resound- 

 ing as a pistol shot ; and now down stream he hies, the 

 ringing of the reel is heard, and now he dogged grows, 

 seeking deep water, there he holds his own, with the 

 tenacity of a limpit to a rock, and yet 'tis no avail. Throw 

 pebbles, stones or mud. Give him the butt, and let him 

 feel the hook. Be wary 1 inch by inch, you feel him move, 

 and now he dashes headlong from the stream in quick 

 successive leaps. At last he weaker grows, — ^behold his 

 silveiy sides ! press gently on him, drawn him to the 

 shore; and now, with gaff prepared and practised hand, 

 strike him with care, and haul him on the beach. 



I would all men were fishers ! I, love the sport, and not 

 being selfish, would have them love it too. Apart from 

 fishing, 'tis a field for contemplation, wandering o'er hill 

 and dale, 'mid grassy glade and upland lawn, — 'tis nature's 

 school ! and he who will not therein learn a lesson, is a 

 dull soulless clod, and ne'er deserves the name of man. 



ARTIFICIAL FLIES. 



The little experience I can bring to bear Upon the choice 

 of flies, is briefly given. I copy nature as nearly as I can, 

 and go provided with the necessary appliances for making 

 flies ; and many a dish of fish I've killed by acting thus. 

 Fish are coquettes, and like the fair Sex, very fanciful, some- 

 times they'er tempted by the scarlet, and then again by 

 green and gold ; sometimes they'll turn their tails upon the 

 tinsel, and chose the sombre shades of black and brown. 



