New-York tribune., 1885-07-19
CATCHING TROUT.
A FISHERMAN ON A MAINE LAKE.

CATCHlNG IROUI.
A FISHERMAN ON A MAINE LAKE.
IFRoM OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rR'huSn'
MIDDLE DAM CANT, Maine, July 12.-"Id
list eves go In washtub IA onc OF them ooals i'
Is to say I'd list about evcs Thus spake Marsh 10
he and LIman another gnde, struggled to push mon
grel Whitehall boat roots and stunps and launch
1t upon the of the river We were bound ior d.
Pond pretty little sheet of water some ak miles from
the Middle Dam The trout OF r. Pond are known to
average well and their gamiuess has been frequently
atcsed 1t Is tine that b. Pond was supposed 10 do
by club but the clubs title has peeh upset
by q recent decision In tho conrts. and Hst enough
uncertainty remains add fearful pleasure 10 the hsh
ernans Joys Across tho river lay our path. but there
was lam or logs below. Take handful OF toothpicRs
drop them into confused heap, and you have some IDEA
Of tho in,eraceeDt OF broken trunks which forms
Maine river Jam. Rivcr-drivers gaunt aud wiideyed
lealed from log TO log welded drills upon All
obstructing rock At the foot OF the poud above ths
jam fleet OF logs lay Idly behind boom We don't
want fer pucgls round through them woods" said
Lnman, and Wen jist shove this here Rolun Moses
through the logs" Il low bridge all y while the
boat dubbed Roilir' Moses" was pushed under tue
cable fastening end Of the boom to stump on shore
Gimme fudget" said Luman rs he sprang upon log
sezng an iron shod pole. and with dexcrity born OF
long practice In rver-drivng began TO walk from one
slippery uncertain surface 10 another The logs we're
ooaxcd this way anu that. Rollin Moses" steadily
until clear water opened before US ana pres
entity We disembsrked through bushes ami mud ana
began the thrce-mc tramp trail ana tote road
10 D. Pond The rattle Of claws upon n tree and n
glimpse OF a dark humpbackcd animal awkwarniy
clambcring upward reused an unfoundcd excitement
over bar" But The bar Of our losing 1t
was only hedgehog.
The fresh light green OF the blrchcs mingled with The
moro sombro c0loring OF pines aud sprnccs formed
pretty setting for the clear water OF H. Pond but the
speckled ami Saddleback mountains IN the distance
were half hidden by the SNAKE from forc.t hre-tho
most dreaded adversary of the luInberman. But the
trout were not varacions Marsh brought out his
abe.t stories He described dis supper upon an owl ana
upset the proyerb by cxpatating upon It's tenderness
and decacy Ho told OF killing five muskras In tree
at oae shot and quaint action rohtarsed the Staying
OF bears AMI iccr This while rowed about tho pond
with trolling line as.crn for the front refused the uoe
Inviting flies until afternoon. Then the boat was
anchored Of Gull Rock named from the hlidozcn sea
cnls which straycd to this inland home And now
half an hours patient casting brings its reward Out
by the rock the water breaks litte and before the
rlpplcs die away flies are on tho spot What lazy
fish Is that. strike at second rise. brt there Is
no response aud the flies dance back while see broad
tail airing into depths. And now II is ques
ton OF personal pride. Snail be made the paything
o! a trout Perish the thought few more casts and
the n,oent fish again tempted upward becomes trans
formed 10 frantic for the hook sinks deep aud
grunts approval This reel sings choely and rod and
angler thrill and pulsatc In sympathy. Here Il fair
and open field Against the strength and cunDing o: the
trout pit thread Oi gut. strand OF silk, and my Hight
rod which would splinter into bits should attempt to
haul my victim By brute force Incline the rod to
one side and finally bring my hsh about that may reel
np a little OF the long line carried out IN the first mad
rush Stay there the trout flashes like rainbow In The
sansht as he comes clear of the water and promptly
drop the point OF my roI that he may not fall upon
taut lime. What now Only lit OF the suiks AMI
trcn ulous motion OF the line showing that my friend
below shaking bis heal after the fashion OF bulldogs
and blucnsn hoping shake out the sting implanted in
his law. Buckle yer rOd TO him." says Marsh"
ad gance and the rod bends more and more until
he OF the gold spots seeks relief from the strain IN ceav
ing the water this way ond that. sometimes gaming n
little Inc, again giving chance to bring him nearer
There is electrical communion between fish and fisher
man through this del cate tackle. 1 feel HIS every
mUtlon. have affection for my gallant beautiful
victim, and vet would sooner sacrifice rod and line
than give him his longei-ior freedom. slowly his
strength and courage begin to fail him lie reluctantly
draws the boat and 1t Is no longer hard To steer
hn away from the anchor rope; btyet thc SHALLOW OF
the og net cautoa4y projected over the side causes
a Wild plunge downward. Gently. gently, my beauty,
your race is run and tLcsc Sudden pluigcs only
Your aiieux 10 bereavcd friends the blue which
you shall know no more can see lin now The bright
deiantiy first, his body swaying little from
s to e as o a4e is c san e 81 Tor ne y no
Look, tho faintness OF exhaustion benumning that
ana again The battle There is little resistance
rs the sh Is guided toward tho waiting landing net
lower my rci as see the net ,siey uder nue. NY yc,im
pocket scales ana then lay the two aud half pound
iron, the seat before Inc and contemplate the
splendid colorng ami noble outlines with silent salts
faction. Others weghDg pound and two POUNDS come
to keep the first victim company light breeze brings
the breath OF the pines across the water and blows the
backfes iuto Truly, IL Is pleasahtcr To cast
flies In this fragrant sipy air taa to pace tho biserng
his mishaps and faithful to tradition lose my big fish.
for my nut joint snaps straight across at tho feruc as
strike mighty trout seize the line. but the leader
parts and picture some monarch OF the waters sailing
about with fly fast and another depending from his
and tho become unwilling yoke fellows for time.
The repaired but later snaps again under the same
shs for the wood Is briitIo and the makers failure
his material has cost me two large trout But AN
% against % nannS m aSSeny mo Ss watsr PIN Ills m
Marsh" say us the sun sinks low. what shall we
90 70, ca. ss ss% s,a Ts % :,
my Rangelcy GLOSSARY which contains poke ogn."
a DOGGY meaiow; to bud round. to tramp wander
way through the woods; to buckle" 70 bend; aud
hu. Ike the wckisup" Of the Northwest. Our wan
gan . say bower on n, one see whsrs sazes
ws i"Es calls Ths novice "a tesie at the idea
Of se.p9g q Du; bis bread smile fades into
the supper. Is the knife with which Marsh cuts the
pork the with which he has dressed the nsh the
Can It be that Laoan using his horny hngers 70 scoop
the mostsusd ccfse nom dpper into tho lirgin He
camp cuisine and the novice turns away IN quest Of
spiritual consolation But who could resist the savory
s % ,S s s sss %S Hs 1ss
party and hc at sorbcd In weghty thoughts deb.
s,. walled Int. s q pan Ta: sS.s thai e.
The trout were pecesstty; necesslty knows no lAwj