of an ounce trout, who had evidently "lost its mammy," and so got lost itself; but after wading some two miles, we had not caught fish enough to cover the bottom of our creels. My friend was nonplussed, and so was I; but while far in the rear and quite ready to vote fishing a bore, I accidentally cast my fly into a cozy looking cove, when, on the instant, a pound trout rose and was captured. The experiment was repeated and rerepeated with the same result, when I called to my mentor, announced my luck, and suggested a change of tactics during the rest of the day. I had struck a spring hole, and in twenty minutes had caught more fish than both of us had taken during the three hours we had been whipping the shallows and "riffs" in the center of the stream. We afterward only fished in spring holes and at the mouths of spring brooks, and had no further reason to question the veracity of the friends who had lured us thither.

It is this habit of the trout which often brings disappointment to the novice. He fancies that because a stream is a trout-stream that trout should be found at all seasons in all parts of it. But I would as soon think of looking for a friend in an ice-house in January as for a trout in a cold spring hole in May or early in June. They are then in swift and shallow water, if such water is accessible,

and there is where the expert looks for and finds them. It would be just as useless to look for trout in his spring haunts in August as to look for him in his summer haunts in May. Intermediately, from the middle of June to the middle of July, they are on the move. It is their transition period, when they are everywhere in small numbers, but abundant nowhere. And during this period there are probably more visitors in the woods than during any other thirty days of the year. If they have any hankering for fish or any taste for angling, they could not select, through the whole season, any period less propitious. Hence it is no uncommon thing for parties in the woods at this time to find it absolutely impossible to catch fish enough for use. But this is not surprising. Experts are too wise to go fishing during these thirty days, and only experts could lure any considerable number of fish, by any process, while they are thus passing from the swift waters to the quiet spring holes.

It was my fortune upon one occasion, when homeward bound, far on in June, to fall in with a party of six or eight who were camped where a fortnight before the trout were so abundant that I could catch a day's supply for a dozen men in a couple of hours. But I found this party literally fishless, and the most profoundly disgusted group

of disconsolates I ever saw. Some of them had been there before, in proper season, and had done splendidly; and they had brought their friends with them now, anticipating equal success. I explained to them their mistake, recounted to them my own experience of a fortnight before, and, out of sheer sympathy, escorted them two miles to a favorite and secluded pond, where the trout are equally plenty at all seasons, and where they were made happy by abundant sport. Not one of these gentlemen ever afterward "fooled away his time". by fishing on the "riffs" when the trout had changed their quarters to the spring holes.

The somewhat monotonous outlet between the lower and middle Saranac opens into Round Lake, from the upper part of which, one of the grandest mountain views reveals itself to be had in all the woods. I have counted thirty well-defined peaks, the whole combined by a series of gracefully undulating curves which delight the eye of every appreciative lover of nature. My friend Palmer, the sculptor, carries this view in his memory today, and it will not be obliterated by any thing he may see in his present rambles among the grander, but no more beautiful mountain views of Switzerland.

Bartlett's somewhat famous hostelry stands at the head of this lake and is the summer resort of

several greatly esteemed brethren of the angle notably Dr. Romeyn, of Keeseville, whose twenty odd annual visits to these woods have only rendered them the dearer and the more attractive to him. He has caught the true spirit of the art, and is as cheery and joyous in camp as he is genial and accomplished in social life. And so is William A. Wheeler, who seeks and finds here the repose and invigoration which enables him to discharge his official duties at Washington with such exemplary promptness and fidelity. I doubt whether the highest office in the gift of the people would tempt him for a moment, if its acceptance would deprive him of the pleasure and benefit he derives from his annual visit to these pleasant woods and

waters.

A short walk takes us over "Indian Carry," and a short row across the lake to Corey's-where I always manage to dine or sup, because Mrs. Corey is the best cook in the woods, and never fails to give me a cup of coffee as I taught her to make it fifteen years ago. There is, besides, generally some quiet angler sojourning here, whose company and conversation always insures a pleasant evening. I know of no better place between Plattsburgh and Potsdam to rest.

ASSING from Corey's across a half mile carry, we strike a series of ponds which empty through Stony brook into the Raquette. Many years ago, when I first came here, this carry was covered with a dense growth of beautiful pines. But the demand for lumber was too pressing to be resisted, and this

still delightful spot is denuded of its most attractive feature. The work of lumbering is being pushed vigorously within practical distances of all the water-courses of sufficient