TROUT AND ANGLING. 343 



the same weight, the stomach was found to con- 

 tain a stone — we will not be so indefinite as to 

 say " about the size of a piece of chalk," but 

 weighing an ounce and a half. 



It may be hence inferred that the fish in this river 

 or estuary, as it may be called, are rather short of 

 food, which is the fact, — they are consequently 

 poor and in bad condition, feeding on sand-fleas, 

 and a few minnows, and are the most inferior of 

 all the sea trout, peculiar to a part of the country 

 to which we shall presently refer. — The sensibili- 

 ty of the angler is relieved by the belief that, in 

 fish, the organs of feelings are somewhat obtuse. 

 If this is true, the opponents to the sport are dis- 

 armed of the only argument which can be alleged 

 against it, viz : its cruelty. If, however, they mean 

 to apply the charge not only to the fish, but to the 

 worm or other living bait with which they are tak- 

 en, the fly-fisher at least, must be exempted 

 from such an imputation. The impaling of the 

 writhing worm does no violence to his tender sen- 

 sibility, neither does the lively minnow quiver upon 

 his hook. 



Provided with his book of flies, he pursues the 

 pleasure of his sport guiltless of its only objec- 

 tion. Still farther, to remove what is urged 

 against fishing on the score of its cruelty, we 

 may notice how frequently the trout is hook- 



