TROUT AND ANGLING. 363 



since, of a change of temperature attended with 

 snow, which suddenly succeeded a few uncommon- 

 ly warm days, during which the trout, invited by 

 the warmth of the water, rather than governed 

 by the early season, began to change their quarters 

 and ascend the streams, agreeably to the instinct of 

 their nature. The consequence was, that chill- 

 ed by the snow, the streams and shallows near 

 the shore became a mass of sludge, whence the 

 trout, dead and dying, were collected in great 

 numbers, as well as from the edge of the marshes, 

 where they were left by the receding tide. The 

 mortality was such as to occasion a perceptible 

 diminution in the quantity and size of the fish, on 

 that as well as the following season. 



Instances of this nature are, however, of rare oc- 

 currence, but we wish that as much could be said 

 of the shameful practice of netting, which, under 

 pretence of taking herring, is annually perpetra- 

 ted, more particularly in ChiJd^s and Quashnut 

 rivers, in defiance of the well known law against 

 it. It may be said of this and every other place, 

 w^here trout are found, that fair fishing never thin- 

 ned their numbers yet. 



Since upon Poket Point, there is nothing to 

 screen the angler, on first approaching, it is best 

 to be cautious, particularly if it happens to be a 

 calm time. It not unfrequently happens that two 



