CM AP. v.] THE FO UR TH DAY. 117 



You are to know, there is night as well as day fishing for a 

 Trout ; and that, in the night, the best Trouts come out of their 

 holes. 6 And the manner of taking them is on the top of the 

 water with a great lob or garden worm, or rather two, which you 

 are to fish with in a stream where the waters run somewhat quietly, 

 for in a stream the bait will not be so well discerned. I say, in 

 a quiet or dead place, near to some swift, there draw your bait 

 over the top of the water, to and fro, and if there be a good Trout 

 in the hole, he will take it, especially if the night be dark, for then 

 he is bold, and lies near the top of the water, watching the motion 

 of any frog or water-rat, or mouse, that swims betwixt him and 

 the sky ; these he hunts after, if he sees the water but wrinkle or 

 move in one of these dead holes, where these great old Trouts 

 usually lie, near to their holds ; for you are to note, that the great 

 old Trout is both subtle and fearful, and lies close all day, and does 

 not usually stir out of his hold, but lies in it as close in the day 

 as the timorous hare does in her form ; for the chief feeding of 

 either is seldom in the day, but usually in the night, and then the 

 great Trout feeds very boldly. 7 



And you must fish for him with a strong line, and not a little 

 hook and let him have time to gorge your hook, for he does not 

 usually forsake it, as he oft will in the day-fishing. And if the 

 night be not dark, then fish so with an artificial fly of a light 

 colour, and at the snap : nay, he will sometimes rise at a dead 

 mouse, or a piece of cloth, or anything that seems to swim across 

 the water, or to be in motion. This is a choice way, but I have 

 not oft used it, because it is void of the pleasures that such days 

 as these, that we two now enjoy, afford an angler. 



And you are to know, that in Hampshire, which I think exceeds 

 all England for swift, shallow, clear, pleasant brooks, and store of 

 Trouts, they used to catch Trouts in the night, by the light of a 

 torch or straw, which, when they have discovered, they strike with 

 a Trout-spear, or other ways. This kind of way they catch very 

 many : but I would not believe it till I was an eyewitness of it, 

 nor do I like it now I have seen it. 



VENATOR. But, master, do not Trouts see us in the night ? 



PlSCATOR. Yes, and hear, and smell too, both then and in the 



VARIATIONS. 



6 and that then the best are out of their holds. ist and zd edit, " Holds," a word 

 far preferable to " holes," is used in the first four editions. 



7 if the night be dark ; for then he lies boldly near the top of the water, watching the 

 motion of any frojj or water-mouse, or rat betwixt him and the sky, which he hunts for, 

 &c. ist edit. 



