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 

 \vorm 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 troul is hook- 



