lor lunch. They, like Ray, had
caught nothing! none had had
even a strike. “I never saw it
like this, here on the Gallatin,
before,” said Hogan.
“Nobody knows why they won’t
bite when they won’t,” said
Sherm Philips. “That’s what
what makes fishing a sport . I
hope it never gets to be a sci
ence. I’ve heard of fellows keep
ing trout in a glass tank for six
months without any feed at all,
yet all those trout stayed well
and happy. I’ve seen trout here
in the Gallatin and up on Squall
and Spanish and Hell-Roaring
Creek, seen ’em with worms
crawling out of their gill scales,
yet pushing all the water out of
the river the minute you'd cast
a fly anywhere within twenty
feet. You two go downstream
this afternoon and show him
where there’s some big ones.
We had lunch and sat around
until about three o’clock smok
ing and talking. Then Sherm
Phillips took me upstream and
with that kindliness and gener
osity which has writ his name
large in the memory of many
another Yellowstone greenhorn,
he insisted on my taking a bung
ling first crack at those pools
and eddies which fifty years of
fishing in the locality have
made known to him as best for
the big ones.
It must have cut him to the
heart, on that day of few strikes,
to sec me miss two of them be
cause of not knowing how to set
the hook quickly enough when
the strike came. But he gave
not the least sign, instructing
me cheerfully, insisting always
that I was improving, that I
would make a fisherman yet.
Finally, around five, T did In
come .fisherman enough to real
ize something of the greatness
of his sacrifice; and I said that T
had had enough so he would
feel free to go farther up the riv
er by himself.
As soon as he had gone I wad
ed in again. As it darkened I
lislied downstream. When I got
to the car about nine o’clock Ray
was there with four nice ones.
Then Sherm Phillips came in
with seven. I still had my one.
Hogan wasn’t in yet. Ray and
I went over to an iron bridge
near by and started casting ov
er the side in the dark.
A big school of graylings be
gan splashing around, running
our lines under rocks, and so on.
But we were too high above the
water, or something, to land
them; all we could get out of it
was a lot of excitement. Plenty
of that, though. Hogan came in
from down stream with five, one
a four-pounder, but we paid him
hardly any attention, we were so
—wrought up about those gray
lings. He and Sherm Phillips
put up their tackle and began
threshing their arms around.
It was now after ten and bitter
cold and they’d told their fam
ihe0 they'd be home for supper.
But when they saw what we
were doing they got back into it
1 oo. and it was early next day
when we drove back into Boze
man, ■ excitedly arguing why
those graylings wouldn't t a k e
hold, earnestly declaring that
this world would be better and
more joyous place if neople
would only fish more.
PRESIDENT HAS EYES ON
ALASKA, LATHROP FINDS
-x -
Alaska is fortunate in having
as president a man of the calibre
and understanding of Herbert
Hoover. That is the opinion of
Captain Austen E. I,athrop, re
publican national committeeman
who has just returned to Alaska
from a business trip in the
states, his trip having included
a. short stay at the national cap
ital. where he was in conference
with the president on matters
pertaining to the territory.
Captain Lathrop found that
the president has a watchful eye
on the territory and an interest
in territorial progress, ready to
do what he can to encourage
and assist development. The
President was assured by Capt.
Lathrop that the people of Alas
ka who understand and appre
ciate what the government is
trying to do in the way of fish
eries protection ARE IN SYMPA
THY WITH THE FEDERAL POL
ICIES AND CAN BE COUNTED
UPON TO GIVE LOYAL SUP
PORT TO THE ADMINISTRA
TION IN THAT AND ALL OTH
ER RESPECTS.
Captain Lathrop has returned
to Alaska with his status as na
tional committeeman very firm
ly established, virtually all of the
appointments made since his
election having had his indorse
ment. The pending nominations
of W. N. Cuddy and J. H. Hart
which were sent to the senate by
President Hoover, have the in
dorsement of the national com
mitteeman, and it is the belie?
of Captain Lathrop that they
wall be confirmed without great
delay.
indorsements are not Demy
handed out pr omisc u.o u s 1 y
'I.yise candidates receiving the
approval of the national com
mitteeman must be qualified for
the places which they are to fill
and they must be loyal support
ers of the administration, it be
ing realized by Captain Lathrop
that Alaska’s future depends
very much upon the kind of men
selected to fill the positions of
responsibility. With an efficient
working organization in the ter
ritory and a friendly directing
head at Washington, it is believ
ed much can be accomplished
for Alaska during the next few
years.
The greatest of all faults is to
be conscious of none.
X