180 TROUT FISHING. 



arrival, to be laid on (not in) ice. I have repeatedly 

 tried the efficacy of this. The trout which I received, 

 the day after being caught, were soft and watery, in 

 consequence of the journey ; though they had travelled 

 only by night. But those from the ice on the next 

 day, were almost as good as if taken fresh from the 

 river ; for, by this process, the curd becomes set, and 

 the fish recover their firmness. Trout will retain their 

 flavour pretty well for two or three days, by being laid 

 on ice, and turned, about once in twelve hours ; but, if 

 merely put on stones, they will be scarcely eatable, and 

 frequently quite spoiled on the third day after being 

 caught. This plan, by the way, holds good for other 

 fish ; insomuch that the ice will preserve them for many 

 weeks after the flavour is quite gone. Thus it is that 

 people are so frequently taken in with a fine-looking 

 piece of salmon ; which, although apparently fresh, and 

 perfectly sweet, has been so long in a state of petrifac- 

 tion as to have no more flavour than a bit of old leather. 



*y.* I have been solicited, by sportsmen on the continent as well 

 as of my own country, to enlarge on angling in general. But, as 

 my experience has been chiefly limited to trout fishing, I should be 

 sorry to impose on that confidence with which they have honoured 

 me, by attempting to write on other branches of the art where I 

 have but a superficial knowledge. 



