185 



gradxially stouter as ife approaches your hair-line. This 

 will make it throw with greater ease, and prove far more 

 deceptive to the fish. 



Some suppose, that trouts breed worms after spawn- 

 ing; but I know not of any foundation for such an 

 opinion. Ail fishes are weak after spawning ; and we 

 ought to conclude, that such a great change as takes 

 place in their bulk, almost suddenly, must affect their 

 system in proportion - } this, added to the alteration as to 

 the disposition of those juices which nourish the spawn, 

 will account for that lassitude which no doubt preys upon 

 them at such periods. 



With respect to the varieties of /route, only one appears 

 to deserve particular notice, viz. the Gillaroo trout, 

 found in some parts of Ireland. This has the extraordi- 

 nary peculiarity of a kind of gizzard, resembling those 

 in poultry, which is esteemed a great delicacy. It does 

 not, however, appear to be connected with digestion, 

 being more fleshy and less compact than a real gizzard, 

 and without any cavity. Its purpose remains unknown. 



I shall conclude this chapter with remarking, that 

 natural flies, gruls, &c. such as you can provide in the 

 fields, or from trees, bushes, docks, &c. are all excellent 

 baits for trout ; but as they will not bear to be thrown 

 out at the end of your line, you should put them on your 

 hook very neatly ', having first formed artificial wings for 

 such as have none, by lapping a bittern's, or a black, or 

 red cock's hockle, round the butt of your hook, which for 

 such purposes may be No. 3, or No. 4 -, according to tho 

 size of your natural bait. 



Shorten your line, and dip from behind bushes, &c. 

 into places where you think the trouts frequent : if you 



manage 



