-99 



there be die smallest outlet, whether by means of a 

 flood-drain with a grate, or of a sluice, penstock, &rc. 



By following the course of such a brook, and occa- 

 sionally trying the depth where you cannot see the bot- 

 tom, more especially where large trees overhang, and 

 where the sides appear steep, you will rarely fail of dis- 

 covering many a line hole, such as cannot be poached by 

 any kind of net, and in which you will at least find enor- 

 mous eels during their season. 



I never yet knew of a stream that had once contained 

 eels, or trout, that was completely deficient in them 

 afterwards. The former, by getting into the crevices 

 of masonry, or of wood-work, under stumps, and into 

 the mud, or sand, never fail to escape from the netter : 

 they breed go fast as to produce great numbers, to the 

 great destruction of all other kinds of fishes, not except- 

 ing ihcjack, which, when very young, is as subject as 

 any other to the eel's attack. Hence when we find that 

 but very few small fishes are to be seen, we may fuirlv 

 -.ispect that either et-ls, jacks t or perch, are in the 

 water. 



The angler must not expect to find much diversion 1 

 where the water is siuillov/ and clear j but in those p^iis 

 where there are lit.de falls, or under scours, which 

 rumble into holes, however contemptible they may ap- 

 pear, frequendy very fine fishes are taken ; especially 

 if die bottom be rocky, and the water run swiftly, form- 

 ing eddies, with the banks firm and steep : in such places 

 rrouts delight. 



When the water is deep, gloomy, and almost inacces- 

 sible on account of die woods or weeds, &c. on its mar- 

 gin, diere will probably be jacks, perch, and sometimes 

 * 2 tench. 



