HISTORY OF THE TROUT. 13 



CHAPTER II. 



" The trout is a very generous fish ; a fish that is highly 

 valued, both in this and foreign nations." WALTON. 



IT must be obvious that in every branch of sport- 

 ing some acquaintance with the haunts and habits 

 of the animals pursued is indispensable to success- 

 ful practice. Many a man who may be perfectly 

 au fait in all that concerns the mechanical de- 

 partment of his sport, but who fancies that it is 

 only his ill luck which prevents him from being 

 so fortunate as others, whose powers of observa- 

 tion are more active than his own, and who are 

 better informed than himself in the theory which 

 he affects to despise, would doubtless be able to 

 find a more correct and rational cause for his 

 inferiority in his imperfect information on these 

 subjects. To be sure, it is hardly possible for the 

 most indifferent observer to pursue any sport for 

 a length of time without insensibly acquiring 

 some knowledge of the nature and habits of his 

 game ; but there is an immense difference in the 

 amount of information which different individuals 



