a to study these fish, and of this party I was
one. It was there that I saw the most marvelous storm that has perhaps
ever been recorded. An electrical disturbance of great magnitude was
passing over the country at the time, and it reached its vivid climax on
the Sierras. Our camp was struck, several animals killed, and a couple
of the teamsters severely injured, but for nearly two hours the whole
world seemed set in a coronal of lightning flashes.

"We stayed up there with the trout for several weeks, and when we
reached Washington, there was not a man in the party but was determined
to fight, heart and soul, to save these rare fish from extinction. One
or two summers during which 'fish-hogs' were permitted on the upper
reaches of the Kern River, would have destroyed the trout forever, and,
indeed, in one month a party of those reckless near-sportsmen destroyed
almost one thousand of them. But the President's interest was enlisted,
the Bureau of Fisheries made a firm stand, and to-day the region
containing these most exquisite and most wonderful of all fresh-water
fish is a part of the Mount Whitney National Park, and the golden trout
are saved from extinction."

"Bully for the Bureau!" cried Colin. "Every time I learn more of its
work, it seems to be doing something finer."

Following out the lad's interest in the whole trout question, Dr. Jimson
taught him nearly all there was to know about the various members of the
salmon and trout family, one of the most important food-fish groups of
the world. Both being ardent fishermen, they were startled, however, by
the sudden announcement:

"Big halibut off starboard quarter!"

"Yes," said Dr. Jimson, "there it is! Don't you see it," he continued,
pointing with his finger, "flapping its tail on the water?"

"I see," said Colin; "but what is it doing that for?"

"Probably attacking a fish," was the reply. "Are you going after it,
Captain?"

"No," the fisherman answered; "I've heard that people sometimes catch
them without a net, but I never did."

"One of the biggest halibut that was ever brought ashore was caught in
just such a way," the trout expert said, turning to Colin. "It was out
near Sable Island, and the halibut was attacking a big cod by repeated
blows with its tail. A boat was sent out with a couple of men carrying
gaff-hooks, and the fight between the two fish was so fierce that
neither of them paid any attention to the boat. The fishermen gaffed the
ha