ANGLING FOB TROUT. 61 



or sides of streams. At this period they turn black 

 about the head and body, and become soft and un- 

 wholesome. After the trouts have spawned, they look 

 sick, and lean, and big-headed, are bony, and not 

 good till the spring returns to animate them. In 

 February, when the weather gets milder, the trouts 

 leave their winter quarters in the deeps, for shallow 

 waters and swift streams. They first settle in the eddies 

 of a stream ; and, as they gain strength, they advance 

 nearer the head. They settle for the most part in 

 whirlpools and holes, into which swift streams and 

 shallows fall ; and, growing strong, feed in the largest 

 and swiftest current, especially in the sides and deepest 

 part of them near to their holes. If they are large, 

 they commonly lie under hollow banks, that are worn 

 so by the stream bearing on them ; under the roots of 

 trees, boughs, and bushes, and behind large stones, 

 blocks, and banks, that jut forth in the water, on which 

 streams pressing cause an eddy or whirling back of 

 the water. In such places they delight themselves to 

 lie, constantly waiting and watching for the stream to 

 bring something down to feed upon, either at top or 

 bottom. Sometimes, for want of a better covering, they 

 lurk under sedges and weeds, the better to surprise 

 their prey ; in mill heads and dams; and in those streams 

 where the dam runs into the river, and in deep swift 

 streams at floodgates and weirs. " Large trouts," says 

 Sir H. Davy, " always hide themselves under the same 

 bank, stone, or weed, and come out from their perma- 

 nent habitations to feed. When they have fled to 

 their haunt, they may be taken there by the hand ; 



