FISHES AND PISHING. 281 



in one or the other of these rural, health-giving 

 sports. 



My own experience is, that when I have had an 

 an opportunity of enjoying a few hours' fly-fishing* 

 on the bank of a trout stream, I have found my whole 

 system revivified for some time after. By the inhala 

 tion of air, containing a large proportion of pure 

 oxygen, the blood, consequently, becomes oxygenated 

 in a greater degree ; the circulation of all the fluids of 

 the body is increased, and healthily improved, for it is 

 scarcely necessary, at the present day, to explain this, 

 when even the more humble classes know the import 

 ance of pure air to ensure the health of the body, 

 through the lungs receiving a larger portion of oxygen. 

 The artisan who is confined in an unwholesome atmo 

 sphere during six days, requires fresh air to renovate 

 his constitution ; and those who desire to abridge his 

 comforts in this respect, are no friends to their fellow 

 beings. They who thus attempt to injure the health 

 of the poorer part of the community, if the Pythago 

 rean system were to be the true one, should be con- 



* Fly-fishing is more conducive tojhealth than bottom fishing ; 

 for in the former there is considerable exercise for the muscles of 

 the arms, in throwing the line, and for the legs in moving about. 

 Spinning a minnow, and trolling are next in point of advan 

 tageous results to the health: another superior advantage of fly 

 fishing is, that it is practised by the side of rapid and aerated 

 streams. 



