112 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
is called the black state, which is the intermediate one be- 
tween the former and that of their ordinary limpidness and 
purity. The red or muddy state, they say, renders the 
trout sick, and in the black they return to more than their 
usual appetite. A heavy summer shower is favourable for 
catching trout. Anglers tell us, that it beats the fly into 
the water, and prevents the fishes from perceiving the dis- 
tinction between the real and artificial: and, as to be wet- 
ted to the skin is nothing to those who are really fond of 
the sport, great quantities are often taken during these 
showers. 
Some imagine, there is little or no art in angling, but 
that the whole consists in drawing out the fish, after it has 
fixed itself to the fatal hook. That there is something more 
than this, however, and that both skill and dexterity are 
necessary to success, is proved from a fact known to all. 
Experienced anglers will catch numbers, while, in the 
same part of the stream, and under similar circumstances in 
other respects, those who are inexperienced, though they 
may get many a nibble, will not catch one. 
The well known methods of catching fish, consist of net- 
ting, snaring, bobbing, and angling with rod, hook and line, 
and variety of baits, living, artificial, or dead; and in the 
United States is not confined to particular places, but in 
every river, creek, brook, pond or lake, with which the 
country is so well provided, and the fish which claim the 
most attention of those who follow it as a sport, are the 
salmon, trout, rockfish, pike, chub, perch, catfish, eels, 
sunfish and roach, beside others which are peculiar to the 
lakes. The salmon is both a fresh and salt-water fish, and 
divides its time pretty equally between the two, but is 
more generally confined to the north, or climates of low 
temperature. When they have once entered a river, their 
progress is not easily stopped, frequently ascending those 
of the greatest length, and remarkable for their rapidity 
and strong vortexes. They always have their heads to the 
stream; and their muscular power must be very great, as 
they shoot up the rapids with the velocity of arrows. They 
are sensitive and delicate in the extreme, and equally avoid 
water that is turbid or tainted, and that which is dark with 
woods, or any other shade. They serve as a sort of wea- 
ther glasses, as they leap and sport above the surface of the 
water, before rain or wind; but during violent weather, 
especially if there be thunder, they keep close to the bot- 
tom; and they either hear better than many other species 
of fish, or they are more sensible to these concussions of 
the air produced by sound, as any loud noise on the bank 
throws them into a state of agitation. When their progress 
is interrupted by a cascade, they make wonderful efforts to 
surmount it by leaping; and as they continue to do that at 
places which a salmon has never been known to ascend, 
their instinct cannot be to go to the particular spot where 
they were spawned, but simply to some small and shallow 
stream. 
There is scarcely any time, unless when it thunders, or 
when the water is thick with mud, but you may chance to 
tempt the salmon to rise to an artificial fly. But the most 
propitious are critical moments; or, undoubtedly, when, 
clearing after a flood, the water has turned to a light whey, 
or rather brown colour; when the wind blows pretty fresh, 
approaching to a mackerel gale, against the stream or course 
of the river; when the sun shines through showers, or 
when the cloudy rack runs fast and thick, and at intervals 
discovers the pure blue ether from above. In these situa- 
tions of the water and of the weather, you may always de- 
pend upon excellent sport. 
The most difficult thing for a beginner, is to throw the 
line far, neatly, and to make the fly first touch the water. 
A few attentive trials will, however, bring him to do it 
with dexterity. 
It should always be across the river, and on the far side, 
when you expect the fish to rise. If he appears, do not be 
too eager to strike, but give him time to catch the fly; then, 
with a gentle twist, fix the hook in his lip or mouth; if he 
is hooked in a bone, or feels sore, he will shoot, spring and 
plunge, with so much strength and vehemence, as to make 
the reel run with a loud whizzing noise, and your arms to 
shake and quiver most violently. In this situation, take 
out the line from the winch quickly, though with compo- 
sure, keeping it always at the same time stretched, but yet 
ever ready to yield to his leaping. Do not let it run to any 
great length, as it is then apt to be unmanageable, but rather 
follow him, and if he comes nearer, y.ou retire, and wind 
up as fast as possible, so as to have the line tight, and hold 
your rod nearly in a perpendicular situation. When he 
becomes calmer, he often turns sullen, and remains motion- 
less at the bottom of the water. Then cast a few stones 
upon the spot where you think he is, and this, in all proba- 
bility, will rouse him from his inactive position. Be cau- 
tious in the lifting and the throwing of them, as the salmon 
may spring at that instant, and break your tackle, should 
you be off your guard. Being again in motion, he gene- 
rally takes his way up the current: do not then check him, 
as by this way his strength will be the sooner exhausted. 
When, now fatigued, and no longer able to keep his direc- 
tion, he once more tries all his wiles in disengaging himself 
from the guileful and hated hook; he crosses and recrosses, 
sweeps and flounces through every part of the pool or 
stream; but, finding all his efforts to be vain, he at last, 
indignant at his fate, with immense velocity, rushes head- 
long down the stream. If the ground is rough or uneven, 
or if you cannot keep pace with him, give him line enough,. 
