282 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



stream of considerable length, in which good trout-fishing 

 may be obtained. This tributary, on the whole, is better 

 adapted for the purposes of the angler, than the waters of 

 the parent river. Bouchain is not a place of any 

 note. 



A few miles below Bouchain, the Scheldt receives the 

 waters of the Selle, which has a run of more than twenty 

 miles from its source amongst the neighbouring hills. A 

 little below this junction, the small river Escaillon, 

 swelled by the union of four or five tributaries, contributes 

 to increase the volume of the Scheldt. All these waters 

 abound with trout; and the angler may reasonably calcu- 

 late on respectable sport, with fly or minnow, but the 

 latter for choice, if the waters be not too much flooded ; 

 indeed the streams are in many places rippling, and 

 rather fine than otherwise. 



At the city of Valenciennes, the river Rhonelle pours 

 its waters into the main stream. This too is an excellent 

 tributary, and runs a course of twenty or thirty miles 

 from its origin, supplied at intervals by several small 

 feeders. 



Valenciennes is a very old and interesting town. Its 

 churches museum of natural history library, contain- 

 ing twenty thousand volumes and many rare manuscripts 

 and its pictures by Rubens, and other eminent artists, 

 are all deserving of especial notice. Valenciennes is 

 very strongly fortified, and, in a military point of view, 

 is a town of great importance. Its lace manufacture is 

 celebrated all over the world. 



At the town of Conde the Scheldt receives the Haine, 

 which has several small tributaries, and runs a course of 

 five-and-twenty or thirty miles. This is a good stream 

 for angling; and the villages upon its banks are very 



