352 TROUT AND ANGLING. 



also affords shelter to the trout, being more with- 

 in reach, may consequently be said to supply their 

 principal food, at least through the winter months. 

 As it is necessary in the pursuit of all game to be 

 governed by a knowledge of its particular food, so 

 it may be said of the sea-trout, their motions while 

 in the salt water being regulated by those of the 

 minute fish upon which they live. Both minnows 

 and shrimps are more or less affected by the action 

 of the tide, particularly the latter, which in its re- 

 flux sweeps the 'passive shrimp in shoals across a 

 sandy eddy of the bay into the very mouths of the 

 expectant trout, who there collect and lie in wait 

 to feast upon them. 



It may be hence inferred that the shrimp is a 

 good bait, and so it is, — the only objection to it, is 

 that of its not being sufficiently tough upon the 

 hook, and therefore stolen with such ease by the 

 fish as to require very frequent rebaiting ; in this 

 respect, the minnow has the advantage, and may 

 be considered the established bait for the sea- 

 trout. 



If ever so well provided, it would be in vain to 

 fish in the broad waters of the bays to which we 

 allude — an occasional trout is sometimes taken 

 while following the edge of the eel-grass which 

 forms the channel, but it is not the way to fill 

 the basket. They are governed, as we have ob- 



