66 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



in rivers sooner in season : and as some hollies or oaks are longer 

 before they cast their leaves, so are some trouts in rivers longer 

 before they go out of season. 



And you are to note, that there arc several kinds of trouts ; but 

 these several kinds are not considered but by very few men, for 

 they go under the general name of trouts: just as pigeons do in 

 most places ; though it is certain there are tame and wild pi-^ 

 geons ; and of the tame, there be helmits and runts, and carriers 

 and cropers, and indeed too many to name. Nay, the Royal 

 Society have found and published lately, that there bo thirty and 

 three kinds of spiders ; and yet all, for aught I know, go under 

 that one general name of spider. And it is so with many kinds 

 of fish, and of trouts especially, which differ in their bigness and 

 shape, and spots and color.* The great Kentish hens may be an 

 instance compared to other hens : and doubtless there is a kind 

 of small trout which will never thrive to be big, that breeds very 

 many more than others do that be of a larger size ; which you 

 may rather believe, if you consider that the little wren and tit- 

 mouse will have twenty young ones at a time, when usually the 

 noble hawk, or the musical thrassel or black-bird, exceed not four 

 or five. 



And now vou shall see me try mv skill to catch a trout ; and 

 at my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning, I 

 will give you direction how yourself shall fish for him. 



Vex. Trust me, Master, I see now it is a harder matter to 

 catch a trout than a chub : for I have put on patience, and foU 

 lowed you these two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither at 

 your minnow nor your worm. 



Pisc. Well, Scholar, you must endure worse luck sometimes,f 



and clear, and the early flowers peeping through the grass, and a south 

 wind blowing, are sure signs that the trout are waiting to try our skill. — 

 Am. Ed. 



• This is the common sense view of the matter. The history of the 

 trout and salmon is as yet very obscure, especially in this country. Dr. 

 De Kay describes but three species of salmon, and two of trout. Tlie 

 researches of Agassis, who devotes himself with i)eculiar zeal to this family 

 of fishes, will, it is hoped, throw much light upon the subject. — Am. Ed. 



f Franklin's story of " a glorious nibble," is well known ; but there is 

 another told of an angler trying, without success, a spot where he had 



