272 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



not a bad starting point for the angler, for it affords him 

 the advantage of fishing either up or down the stream, 

 as he may feel inclined. The river above Guise is very 

 pure and limpid, and runs along in fine rippling streams, 

 peculiarly favourable for the fly, as well as minnow. The 

 town itself is of little importance to the traveller. 



From Guise to La Fere the river is excellent for trout- 

 fishing. A little above the town, it receives the small 

 stream called the Serre, which the angler may as well in- 

 vestigate, if it suit his convenience. La Fere is but an 

 insignificant place. 



Before the Oise reaches Noyon, the next town on its 

 banks, it receives the waters of the river Lette, which tra- 

 verses a distance of nearly thirty miles, after its rise near 

 a village called Corbeny. This tributary abounds with 

 fish, but is better adapted for the minnow than the fly. 

 About half a mile from Noyon, the rivulet called the 

 Vorse, runs also into the Oise. Noyon is rather an 

 interesting little town, beautifully ornamented with an 

 immense number of small gardens, cultivated with great 

 art and care. It is also well known as the birth-place of 

 the celebrated John Calvin, a man whose religious 

 opinions have exercised a powerful influence over all 

 Protestant states since his day, in spite of the unscrip- 

 tural gloominess of his doctrines, and the very question- 

 able character of his life. The cathedral is an interesting 

 edifice ; it was founded by Pepin-le-Bref, and finished by 

 Charlemagne. 



A little before the river reaches Compeigne it receives 

 the waters of the Aisne, a very powerful stream, which 

 runs a long and circuitous route through a very beautiful 

 and interesting part of France. 



This tributary is nearly as long in its course as the 

 parent river itself; since it takes its rise near a village 



