THE INQLOMIOUS DEATH OF A THAMES TROUT. Ill 



the beginning and end of a worm), and attracted the 

 attention of the foremost and largest trout. 



Without a moment's hesitation he made a dash, gave 

 it with his head two or three savage shakes, then worm 

 and hook disappeared. 



He was on the point of turning round to regain his 

 position, when his progress was arrested by a gentle 

 strike of the rod, which by this time was in hand, and 

 he learnt, too late, alas ! that he had been deceived. 



Giving up the game as lost just then, however, was 

 far from his intention, so he rushed straight out into 

 mid-stream, and when there commenced to jump and 

 lash out on the surface with both head and tail to 

 such an extent that we Avere in fear for our tackle; 

 but he was obliged to give in eventually, and by the 

 aid of a landing-net a very pretty fish of about 4 lb. 

 weight adorned the bank. 



The fish was taken up stream as soon as hooked, so 

 as not to disturb the others more than could be helped, 

 who remained in their positions, but were very shy ; 

 and as we could do nothing with them, we eventually 

 turned it up for the day. 



Although, perhaps, it may be open to argument that 

 the circumstances warranted the means, yet we must 

 confess that the satisfaction of grassing this trout was 

 not one tenth part as great as if we had caught him 

 with the legitimate and sportsmanlike fly, and we felt 

 we had played him rather a shabby trick. 



Considering the numbers of trout which have been 



