Pike-Fishing in the Black Forest. 33 



I have been along it which I have more than 

 once it seemed to contain plenty of small trout ; 

 but the water was so low and clear that I 

 never cast a fly in it. But at St Blasien, at 

 least, it is what we at home should call 

 "poached." The Schwarzwalders' method of 

 catching trout was in this wise : A number of 

 stones are placed together at one end of a pool 

 in the shape of a V, though the two sides do 

 not join as in the actual letter. A net is held 

 in this narrow part ; and then the sportsmen 

 proceed to splash about the pool, turn up stones, 

 and do all they can to drive the fish between 

 the two walls. Once inside, the only means by 

 which most can escape is into the net at the 

 bottom. When this sort of thing goes on, 

 the angler is naturally not only disturbed from 

 time to time in his day's fishing, but no little 

 havoc is played with the stock of trout, especi- 

 ally when the water is low. 



Some five or six miles below St Blasien, in the 

 best part of the valley, is a neat little inn, Zum 

 Engel, which, from all appearances, would be 

 the best headquarters for the fishermen in the 

 Albthal. These surmises are apt to be mislead- 

 ing. Still, I may add that the Kinsig from 

 c 



