SKA FISH. — FKESIl-WATKU FISH. 15 



imicli to watclitui ohscrvntion of niinutiu*, such as tlic luiillni'; 

 ot the liiu', the CDrrrct depth of the plunuiu't or sinker, and 

 siu'h hke, and more to (h>lieacv of liand in feehng, appreeiatin-r, 

 and huinonrini; the victim, when C()(pii'ttin<; and nihhhn^ ahonl 

 the hait. It cannot he Ukencd tn thi- skill exeitid in castint: 

 and mana^ini; the fly, or the spinning niiiuniu ; nuich lt>s to 

 the phiyin;;, kiUinj;, and hasketini: the hea\iest kind of lish with 

 the hf^htest rnnnini; tackk'. 



It mnst he accpiiri'd hy hahit and practice, if it he thon<,dit 

 worth the trouhh" of accpiisition, hnt it can scarcely he tanj^ht 

 at all hy instruction or example; ami written preci'jjts to this 

 end woidd he alto^'cthcr wortldess, as they would he dull and 

 unnniusim;. 



I shall now proceed to the ennmcration of the (ianu" lishes 

 of the I'nited States and ISritish Provinces of North America, 

 according: to my nndcrstandiu'; of their •;ame (pialities — 

 rcj^ardint; them, first, under their j^rcat divisions of fresh and 

 snlt-water fish ; then as migratory or non-mij^ratory, and deep- 

 sea or shoal-water. 



And here I shall ohserve that I adopt these <rrand divisions 

 as paramount to the natural distinctions of ;,'enera, familii's, 

 and the like, as I conceive thai such a treatment of my sidjject 

 will he most conducive to the pleasure and advantage of sports- 

 men, for whoso l)enefit I cspcrially write; while tlic naturalist 

 will find that, suhj<'ct t«) these divisions, he will rccop^iise all 

 his old nc(iuaintances, and iKMhaps encounter sonic new ones, 

 under tlic generic and specific dinsions and definitions to which 

 he has heen accustomed. .Ml the (Janu* Fish of this country 

 belong to a few well-nuirkcd families; and with the sole cxccp- 



