WEIGHT OF TROUT. 117 



is takeu, it is regarded as a monster, and is heralded from one 

 end of the country to the other, through the public press. I have 

 myself seen a Trout, taken in the winter through the ice, in 

 Orange County, New York, which lacked but a few ounces of six 

 pounds. I know several instances, not exceeding half-a-dozen, 

 of fish varying from four to five pounds, taken, some on Long 

 Island, some in the interior, within twelve or thirteen years, but 

 I have never heard it asserted that a fish of larger size has been 

 taken in America. 



There is, I am aware, a tale that many years since a Trout of 

 eleven pounds was taken at Fireplace ; and a rough sketch of 

 the fish is still to be seen on the wall of the tavern bar-room. 

 I know, however, that this fish was considered at the time, by 

 all the true sportsmen who saw it, to be a Salmon, and the 

 sketch is said to bear out that opinion, though I do not myself 

 understand how a mere outline, not filled up, can convey any 

 very distinct idea of the species intended. 



Suffice it, that it is not only not on record that any Trout of 

 seven pounds or upward has been captured on this continent, 

 but that old fishermen will assert positively, that they never 

 grow to be above five pounds in weight ; and very coolly and 

 civilly imply to you that you are speaking falsely, when you tell 

 them that Trout from ten to twenty pounds are no great rarities 

 in England, and that they are taken even of a much greater 

 weight. The fact, on this point, is, that Trout of ten or even 

 fifteen pounds — I mean the common speckled Trout (Salmo 

 Fario), analogous to our Brook Trout — are more common in 

 some of the large rivers of England, and large lakes of Ireland, 

 than fish of four pounds are here. There probably rarely passes 



