150 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATEES. 



emotions of pleasure to the best minds ; and while much of 

 it is due to the incomparable beauty and superior qualities of 

 the fish, yet his habits and attributes command unmixed ad- 

 miration. " He is an intellectual kind of creature, and has 

 evidently a will of his own. He looks sagacious and intelli- 

 gent sedulously avoids thick, troubled, and muddy waters 

 prefers the clear spring stream displays an ardent ambi- 

 tion to explore streams to their source ^is quick, vigorous, 

 and elegant in his movements likes to have the exclusive 

 command of the stream keeps* up a rigid' system of order 

 and discipline in the little community of which he is a mem- 

 ber exhibits a remarkable degree of nicety and fastidious- 

 ness about his food is comparatively free from vulgar, low, 

 and groveling habits entices his pursuer into the loveliest 

 scenes of Nature's domains calls forth from man his utmost 

 ingenuity and skill and, in- a word, in every stage of his ex- 

 istence preserves a dignified demeanor, unattainable by any 

 other living occupant of the streams. 



"While these may be styled his social and intellectual 

 qualities, his physical constitution is equally entitled to our 

 respectful consideration. He discloses a prepossessing and 

 fascinating figure, moulded in strict conformity with most 

 refined principles of symmetrical proportion, sparkles in all 

 the gorgeous colors of the rainbow, and occupies a distin- 

 guished position in the important science of gastronomy." 



Reasons which combine to establish so high an estimate in 

 the regard of anglers are connected with the idea that the 

 amber beauty is gifted with mind, for in every thing which 

 claims human attention, mind, real or imaginary, in the object 

 is necessary to attract our serious notice and to secure our 

 lasting esteem. 



Once nearly every stream in the Middle, Northern, and 

 Eastern States teemed with both trout and salmon. The 

 salmon have been driven away, and, had not anglers inter- 

 fered to save the trout, the luxury would now only be known 

 from books and the stories of the oldest inhabitants. As it 



