220 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



While in this solitude she thus remains 



And dyea her beauteous face with various stains, 



It chanc'd the robber Lucius thro* the shade, 



With eager eyes perceived the lonely m*id j 



He saw and lov'd her riches, on her face, 



For both her dress and form appear'd with equal grace 



The nymph now heard the rustling with affright ; 



She saw a man and trembled at the sight ; 



Swiftly along the winding shore she fled, 



And cry'd, and vow'd, and call'd the gods to aid. 



Truta, despairing, sought; wit n trembling speed, 



A rock that overlooked the wat'ry mead ; 



Hither she bent her course, the tummit gained, 



And thought her virtue now might be maintained 



Cheaply with loss of life : while here she stood. 



And just prepar'd to leap into the flood, 



Lucius approach'd, and while he held behind 



Her flow'ry vest that fluttered in the wind, 



Chang'diato fish, an equal fate they bore, 



And though transform'd in shape, yet, as before. 



And this is how Eandal Holme, in that marvellous book, the " Academy 

 of Armory," speaks of the same fish : " Trout are emblems of quiet, 

 calm, and gentleness, such as love not to be in troubled waters or to be 

 tossed to and fro by the blustering of wicked and manevolent spirits, but 

 rather live quiet at home than enjoy abundance through labour and 

 trouble." 



Trout fishing has, probably, excited more controversy than any other 

 branch of fishing. I shall here divide it into three grand divisions, viz., 

 fly fishing, worm fishing, and bait fishing. The term fly fishing com- 

 prises the artificial bait and its living prototypes. The so-called worm 

 fishing includes not only the natural lob and red worms, but any living 

 bait except fish. The bait fishing implies fish baits only. I make these 

 not very convenient distinctions for the benefit of the tyro's memory. I 

 will first refer to fly fishing. 



Little can be added to the plenitude of the praises which have been so 

 lavishly expended on fly fishing by the hundred and one writers on the 

 subject. This style of fishing, when pursued for trout, is undeniably the 

 chief sport afforded by fresh water. Each other style of fishing may, 

 and undoubtedly does, possess claims which, to the specialist, seem to 

 exceed all others, but no fish combines in their pursuit the same elements 

 of enjoyment comprised by fly fishing for trout. The uncertainties of 

 weather and water, the niceties of preparing for the fishing, and the 

 various methods in vogue for capture, absorb an amazing amount of 

 interest, and cover a much larger ground than is the case with any 

 other fish found in our streams and lakes. 



The rod first claims attention. It is always advisable, whether in 

 selecting a rod for fly-fishing or not, to decide upon one which in some 

 sort agrees with the stature and strength of the person using it. It 

 should in no case be too long, and over weight is an equal fault, which 

 the experienced fly-fisher will never fall in with owing to his proper par- 

 ticularity on the former points referred to. A rod of 14ft. is for trout 



