"PASS THE SALT."

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 39, 14 May 1907, Page 6

"PASS THE SALT."

e—. — YOU WILL NEED IT WHEN READING THIS. ' + “Y*s, gentlemen, I saw the speckled beauty come drifting down stream for the water was clear as crystal,” began McCain, an ardent fisherman. “Gently I shovelled out a gaudy fly right in his path, and was rewarded with the trout stopping in his serene course to give it a look. Still he only nosed around it like an epicure. “Just as I was about to lay down the rod in disgust the water began to fairly boil, and when the rod was almost jerked out of my listless hands I knew that I had hooked that trout. The struggle was a fierce one, but finally I drew the finny fighter wriggling above the water—tail first! Then I realised that, I had hooked 1 him by the tail. j “Friends, the delicate membranes at the end of that trout's tail were inclosed in a plain gold ring that I had lost ten years before while swimming in that same stream. Enough of the metal was exposed to allow me to recognise it and to realise how my hook had caught in it. What d’ye think of that ?” | “Well, well, well, that certainly j was wonderful,” said Angleboy. ' “The ring must be a great curiosity, ' and I you have it with you ? /“The reason I haven’t got that ring to show,” explained the first fisherman, “is because, when I saw that ring-tailed trout gasping there, the thought suddenly came toy me that the trout hadn't bit at my hook, so I threw him back in the stream for a fairer chance, but he quickly got out of reach.” “I hate to interrupt you,” said i Angleboy apologetically, “for I was j doubtful whether it was the same j trout that 1 hooked ; but when you | say that you returned him to the ■ stream that clears up everything. I ! can confirm with my own eyes the i truth of your wonderful story.” I “Why, were you there?” gasped the story teller. “I was near the spot, on the same stream. I judge that you were fishing near the old Hisley weir. Yes ? Well, I was looking for trout about half a mile nearer Newton Abbot on the same day, and—you may believe me or believe me not—l caught the same trout in exactly the same way —my hook' caught in that ring of yours on his tail. “I also was struck by the same idea of giving him a fair chance, but before I threw him back in the water I took out a small toy bell, and attached it to the ring. I. wished to note if fish could be led by a bell, the same as sheep. And so—” ' “They are, my dear sir,” broke in Capper, rousing up from his melan- * | choly. “And the reason that I know ! is because I watched your experiment with that same trout.” “What !’’ they both exclaimed, “were you there too ?” “I was laying on a bank about two miles below you sportsmen,’' j said the third fisherman, “when I , was attracted by a bell ringing apparently in the water. Then I , noticed a big trout coming along like a Swiss bell-ringer, with about j 200 curious trout following to know ] what the chimes meant. I caught fifty of them.” | “That’s enough,” said the first j fisherman, “the drinks are on me.”