The Fordwich Trout. 169 



" Observations of the nature and breed- 

 ing of the Trout, and how to fish for him 

 and the Milk Maid's Song," is the head- 

 ing of -the much enlarged Chapter IV. 

 of the fifth edition ; perhaps the most 

 interesting of all Walton wrote. He loved 

 the trout above all fish, and held trout- 

 fishing in the greatest estimation. Among 

 the varieties of this fish which he men- 

 tions none has caused more controversy 

 than the famous " Fordidge Trout " : his 

 statements have been flatly contradicted 

 by some of his editors. He says, 



" There is also in Kent near Canterbury 

 a Trout (call'd there a Fordidge Trout), 

 a Trout (that bears the name of Jthe Town 

 where it is usually caught) that is accounted 

 the rarest of Fish ; many of them near the 

 bigness of a salmon^ but known by their 

 different colour, and in their best season 

 they- cut very white ; and none of these 

 have been known to be caught with an 

 Angle, unless it were one that was caught 

 by Sir George Hastings ; and he hath told 

 me, he thought that Trout bit not for 

 hunger but wantonness, and it is the 

 rather to be believed, because both he 

 then, and many others before him, have 

 been curious to search into their bellies, 

 what the food was by which they lived ; 

 and have found out nothing by which 



