A High Sierra Circuit on King's River. 183 



The succeeding day was given up to an investigation 

 of the region. Here glaciers have cut down into the 

 solid rock for more than a thousand feet, scooping out a 

 broad basin between the ofttimes steep and well-polished 

 sides. Above the lake rise the ragged remnants of rock 

 which mark the original levels when the ice-king began 

 his carving. The whole spirit of the region is wild, un- 

 tamed, untameable. The smooth and rounded surfaces 

 of Fin Dome serve by contrast to emphasize the sharp 

 and rugged lines of other peaks. Breathing in the air 

 from an elevation two miles above sea-level, one feels the 

 boldness and strength of the mountains in each bone and 

 muscle and longs to climb each peak and gaze out far 

 and wide from this crest-ridge of the continent. But 

 for another day the climbs; to-day the limited look-out 

 and such as may be gained while circling the lake with 

 fishing rod in hand. 



And such fishing! From the rocks we could see them, 

 the hungry monsters that inhabit the depths of Rae Lake, 

 coming up to the surface occasionally for the sun-loving 

 insects. A cast of the fly, a swirl of water, a tightening of 

 the line as the angered fish feels the sting of the barb, 

 a mad rush and then — well, we didn't lose either rod or 

 reel, but all else went in the first experience of more than 

 one of our party. When later, new leaders and tested 

 lines had been reinforced by greater care and caution, 

 several beauties were successfully landed and record 

 catches established by all. 



It is a well-known fact that when newly planted in 

 waters furnishing an abundant food supply, trout grow 

 to enormous size. After a dozen or twenty years, when 

 offspring "compounded annually" cause a struggle for ex- 

 istence, the size of the fish diminish and all grow to about 

 one weight. In many lakes of the Sierra the second stage 

 has been reached, notably so in Bullfrog Lake, where the 

 fish run remarkably even and about ten inches long. In 

 1 901 fish were first planted in Rae Lake. They are now 

 plentiful and very large. The heaviest caught by any of 



