360 TROUT AND ANGLING. 



they can probably see though not seen, that a 

 breeze upon the surface is absolutely necessary. 

 There must be a ripple so as to render objects, if 

 they are seen, at least broken and indistinct to the 

 fish ; even a very light breeze, which comes par- 

 ticularly favorable from the southeast and south, 

 added to the tide current is sufficient, but noth- 

 ing can be done in a calm. It is true that on first 

 throwing in, a few fish are taken, laying as they 

 do when undisturbed, near the sand-bank in watch 

 for the bait ; but the effect of the natural timidity 

 peculiar to the species, is to make them recede 

 farther and farther, until being out of his reach, — 

 the angler, notwithstanding his having pursued 

 them half leg deep, finally abandons the sport 

 until a more auspicious time. Favored, however, 

 by the united circumstances of tide and wind, 

 plenty of bait, and the established equipments, he 

 has every prospect of all the enjoyment which he 

 anticipated. But the idea of enjoyment, to those 

 not of the fraternity will appear rather enigmati- 

 cal, when it is premised that he stands for hours at 

 a time over his knees in the water, (and here it 

 maybe remarked, by way of parenthesis, that as but 

 two or three can fish, conveniently, at one time, 

 upon this and the other similar points, they cer- 

 tainly, having the ground to themselves, have no 

 desire to refute the maxim of de gustibus non est 



