The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

ITS SOURCE AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
with reason to teach them better, but who, nevertheless, often get
themselves into difficulties as inextricable as taking the fly.
In catching the salmon it is very necessary to have the experience
and skill of a practical fly-fisher; that is to say, with a rod and line
of sufficient length to be able to cast the fly into a six-inch ring at a
distance of twelve or fifteen yards, then take position in the bow of
the boat, while at the stern sits your skuller. Arrived on the
salmon ground the fly is carefully cast, and the skuller is on the
alert to back water, or handle the boat in any manner he may be
directed. As the fly gently touches the surface, it is taken, if at all,
and then is the beginning of a most exciting scene. Of course he
is hooked at once, and, discovering this, he gives an exhibition of his
unequalled agility and strength. Madly rushing up stream and
down — it being important to keep a taut line on him- he is
reeled out and in as the exigency requires. Now is the real period
of enjoyment for the true sportsman. The excitement of having on
his line so rich a prize, the science required to handle the job properly, the danger of his breaking away, the plunging and floundering,
the fantastic gyrations, and the intense desire to land him safely, - all
conspire to render this sport attractive and exciting in the extreme.
It is always necessary to allow the salmon to become exhausted
before any attempt is made to secure him, as any effort to complete
the capture while he is in full possession of his unexampled muscular
power would undoubtedly prove disastrous to the success of the
party, and a hard struggle with a healthy thirty-pound salmon
might possibly involve more serious consequences.
As has been said, the trout is, to all intents, the salmon modified.
There are several varieties of trout, each distinguishable by shape,
color, or quality; either of these, and sometimes all combined, are
used to recognize one breed of trout from another. These variations
from the high excellence of the salmon trout are by many attributed
to the water, or, more properly, to the country they inhabit. Thus
we have in all the high-land tributaries of the Merrimack, and, in
fact, all running water, except the inlets and outlets of ponds, the
genuine salmon trout in the highest state of perfection, and even a
superlative silver salmon trout; then there is in swampy streams
and muddy ponds the mackerel trout, a blue and less rich flavored
kind; there is also a variety of trout, very rare, and never found
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