520 TROUT FISHING IN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY. 
coloring, and is more sluggish in movement and less vora- 
cious in appetite. Its spots are all black, less regular in size, 
form and arrangement, and it has a coppery stripe running 
along the lower part of either side. It was the unanimous 
verdict of our party that its flesh is inferior to that of the 
eastern brook trout, though it was highly relished by all. 
The waters of the river are almost as transparent as the 
atmosphere, and are as cold as it is safe to bathe in. The 
trout were so abundant that usually several were in view to 
the observer standing on the river bank, but so shy that one 
would rarely remain within forty feet.* The Indians 
daily brought in large strings taken with the hook, which 
they sold to Mr. Hutchings, our landlord; but it was said, 
that with one exception, no white man had ever taken one. 
The bait always used by the natives is the angle-worm, which 
Mr. Hutchings assured me was found abundant in the valley 
by the first white visitors. I may pause here to say that this 
statement interested me much from the fact that none of 
these worms were ever found on Lake Superior till they 
were planted there; ten years ago those who used them for 
bait were obliged to take them along. I planted the first at 
Eagle River, seven years since, with worms taken from 
Ottawa, Illinois, and they have flourished finely since. 
After nine hours of travel on a very hot day, we re- 
turned from viewing the falls to the hotel. While the rest 
of the party sought rest on beds in their rooms, or on robes 
or blankets under the oaks, I determined to try my hand 
with the trout. I overhauled my satchel and found a few 
flies and some naked hooks, and a very indifferent line- 
Mine host loaned me a Chinese rod, which answered wel 
enough. I first essayed with artificial flies, from behind 
a bunch of willows, by which I was entirely concealed. 
They simply laughed at all my efforts at deception. They 
seemed as indifferent to any fly which I had as they would 
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cones DN WOR MUAY UNIMYAT SUYINENOWIT cree teen etx o we OE 
~ below the surface. The current is very strong. 


