THE SEINE, MAKNE, AND OISE. 265 



expanse of valuable water, and has reference to some of 

 the most important cities and departments in this polished 

 and rapidly flourishing kingdom. 



The Maine and the Oise, although, strictly speaking, 

 tributaries of the river Seine, yet, on account of their 

 respective magnitudes, and the course and direction they 

 traverse, as well as for the sake of clearness and per- 

 spicuity, we have treated as separate and independent 

 streams. 



Many Parisian anglers commence their fly and minnow 

 fishing a few miles above that city, at the junction of the 

 Marne with the Seine; for our own parts, however, we 

 greatly prefer working a river down stream, and there- 

 fore we shall give our descriptions in this order also; a 

 plan which will be found equally as useful in the end, 

 whatever be the mode of travelling which the angler may 

 adopt, or on whatever parts of the water he may choose 

 to commence his operations. 



The SEINE takes its rise in the department of the 

 Cote d'Or, a part of the ancient Burgundy, not far from 

 Chanceaux. This part of France is celebrated for the 

 rivers it gives rise to, as well as the generous wine which 

 flows from its bosom. The Seine the Marne the 

 Meuse and the Aube, all derive their sources from 

 this vicinity, within a circuit of some sixty miles; and 

 the Clos-vougeot, Chambertin, and Romance, declare the 

 superiority of this district over every country in the 

 known world for the production of that glorious fluid 

 which " maketh glad the heart of man." 



When the Seine arrives at Chatillon it becomes a fair 

 fishable stream; but it happens occasionally, in very dry 

 seasons, that the river is a mere thread at this town. 



