238 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



into two divisions, the upper and lower town, is an ancient, 

 though, at the present day, a very inconsiderable place ; but 

 the surrounding country is extremely interesting and beau- 

 tiful. Further down the river, at a village called Posay, 

 the Creuse receives the waters of the Gartempe, which 

 flow through the country a distance of about five and 

 forty miles. This, too, is a good fishing stream; and 

 trout, if we may believe the country peeple and French 

 anglers, may commonly be obtained here from three to 

 five pounds in weight. 



Before the Creuse enters the Vienne, it receives two or 

 three more small streams ; but they are scarcely worthy of 

 the angler's notice. 



The next tributary which enters the Loire below the 

 Vienne, is the Thouet, which traverses by a circuitous 

 route, a very considerable space of country, from its 

 source to the point of junction with the Loire. It takes 

 its rise about ten miles above the town of Parthenay, 

 an old and romantic-looking place, encircled by moun- 

 tains and forests; and is fed by numerous tributaries, 

 in which, as well as in the Thouet itself, many fish will 

 be found. Such is the varying nature of the waters, 

 the angler will be enabled to use either fly, minnow, or 

 red -worm,* as he may judge most eligible under the cir- 

 cumstances. 



The Thouet enters the Loire near the town of Saumur, 

 situated on the left bank of the river; which is a place 

 of considerable importance. Its public library, its 

 churches, and other public buildings, deserve an hour 

 or two's inspection. 



The river Layon falls into the Loire a little below 

 Angers, after running a tortuous course of about five and 

 twenty miles. Large fish are reported by the French 

 anglers, to be caught in this locality. 



