CHAPTER IV 



" I in these flowery meads would be ; 

 These crystal streams shall solace me." 



MUCH has been said by various humane persons 

 about the cruelty of fishing ; but setting aside that, 

 according to the authority of the eminent author 

 of Salmonia, and of Dr. Gillespie also, who, by-the- 

 by, is professor of humanity at St. Andrews, fish 

 seldom feel any pain from the hook. Let us see 

 how the case stands. I take a little wool and 

 feather, and, tying it in a particular manner upon 

 a hook, make an imitation of a fly ; then I throw 

 it across the river, and let it sweep round the 

 stream with a lively motion. This I have an un- 

 doubted right to do, for the river belongs to me 

 or my friend ; but mark what follows. Up starts 

 a monster fish with his murderous jaws, and 

 makes a dash at my little Andromeda. Thus he 

 is the aggressor, not I ; his intention is evidently 

 to commit murder. He is caught in the act of 

 putting that intention into execution. Having 

 wantonly intruded himself on my hook, which I 

 contend he had no right to do, he darts about in 

 various directions, evidently surprised to find that 

 the fly, which he hoped to make an easy conquest 



