<?''■■ 



111511 



;t 





"'&/'■ 



"*4'.'.'. . * :*» 



NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF NORTH UMPQUA 



lows, adding zest to the possibilities the 

 troller enjoys. 



The ordinary trollers, the settlers, use 

 a light skiff. Two men compose the 

 crew. One acts as oarsman, while the 

 other handles the line, the former per- 

 forming the duty of gaffman. A few 

 use a rod and reel with baited hooks, 

 but the boys, girls and inhabitants along 

 the streams use a hand line and spoon. 

 The lines vary in length from twenty- 

 five to one hundred yards or more, de- 

 pending upon individual experience. 



The long line is better, especially in 

 wide rivers with long stretches of deep 

 water. A good oarsman is essential, 

 for the smoothly running boat assures 

 the more regular spinning of the spoon. 

 The irregular or jerky oarsman is sure- 

 ly a hoodoo, for the salmon do not take 

 kindly to the dragging spoon resulting 

 from spasmodic use of the oars. When 



the breezes favor a sailing speed of 

 three or four miles an hour, the most 

 fascinating and certain method of trol- 

 ling is assured. 



The line is released gradually, a bit 

 of slack always being held in reserve 

 for emergencies. When a fish is hooked, 

 the line is hauled in hand over hand, 

 coiled sailor fashion in the bottom of the 

 boat. When thus coiled it pays out 

 evenly, and should the fish run, it can 

 be more readily given. It is astonish- 

 ing how proficient the salmon trollers 

 become in handling a line in this way. 



The memory of a September day's 

 angling upon the estuary of the Ump- 

 qua, where the tides come and go, cease- 

 lessly as time, appears like an enchant- 

 ing picture, or a scene from a fairy 

 tale. Our boat glided swiftly over the 

 sparkling ripples ; a chinook breeze 

 drove the murmuring waves against the 



1 08 



