second day.] TROUT OF THE COLNE. 33 



PHYS. — But I tliink you are below the mark, for 

 this appears to me to be an extraordinarily thick fish. 



HAL. — He is a well-fed fish, but, in proportion, 

 not so thick as my model, which was a fish of 17 

 inches by nine inches, and weighed 2 lbs. ; — this is my 

 standard solid. We will try him. Ho ! Mrs. B. ! — 

 bring your scales, and weigh this fish. There, you 

 see, he weighs 5 lbs. 10 ^oz. 



PHYS. — Well, I am pleased to see this fish, and 

 amused with your sport; but though I have been 

 imitating you in throwing the fly, as well as I can, 

 yet not a trout has taken notice of my fly, and they 

 seem scared by my appearance. 



HAL. — Let me see you perform. There are two 

 good trout taking flies opposite that bank, which you 

 can reach. You threw too much line into the 

 water, and scared them both ; but I will take you to 

 the rapid of the Tumbling Bay, where the river falls ; 

 there the quickness of the stream will prevent your 

 line from falling deep, and the foam will conceal your 

 person from the view of the fish. And let me advise 

 you to fish only in the rapids till you have gained 

 some experience in throwing the fly. There are several 

 fish rising in that stream. 



PHYS. — I have raised one, but he refused my fly. 



HAL. — Now you have a fish. 



PHYS. — I am delighted ; — but he is a small one. 



D 



