TSOUT-FISSING IS THE " NOETH COUNTEIE." 63 



One little bird seems never to forsake the angler, 

 whether in high or lowland district; the matter of 

 altitude makes little difference to him, who deservedly 

 has earned the title of ''the fisherman's companion/' 

 So long as there be water and stones upon which he 

 may rest at intervals between his diving operations in 

 quest of food, the little water-ouzel is satisfied. 



Dropping south over the fells which give the Eden 

 its rise, the burns which form the Ribble-head come 

 into view, pursuing their course over rocky boulders 

 and gravel-beds until they afford attractions for the 

 king of fish. This river is noted as a trout-stream, 

 and, like the Tynes, quickly rises and falls, the average 

 size of the fish being about the same or perhaps, if any- 

 thing, less. 



The country is charming, and although these rivers, 

 which are thick in the morning and bright at midday, 

 are somewhat trying, yet he must be difficult to please 

 who cannot enjoy a few days while casting his fly, 

 wandering along as it were through the centre of the 

 moors, although perhaps the uppermost reaches afford 

 better sport to the gunner than to the angler. 



The riparian proprietors of the upper Ribble should 

 be grateful to the members of the angling club at 

 Horton, who, with the facilities afforded them by 

 gentlemen lining there, hatch and turn out many 

 thousands of trout annually into the river. 



As a rule, in the North Country trout-streams there 

 is no limit as to the size of the fish which may be 



