214 RUDE FARMING. 



patible with pastoral life ; on the contrary, in 

 its improved state a union of the two is re- 

 quired. 



PISCATOE. Truly, in its improved state ; but 

 that is not the condition of farming in this 

 district, in which the holdings are commonly 

 small and the farmers without capital whether 

 of money or knowledge. Look at their dung- 

 heaps exposed to the action of the heavy rains, 

 washing out their richest portion, and you need 

 not look further to be convinced at least of 

 their want of the more precious article. 



AMICUS. On this little fishing excursion how 

 sparing has been our conversation on fishing. 

 Let me ask a question about it : Why is it that 

 you have not proposed trying the lakes we have 

 passed; first Eydalmere, next Grasmere, and 

 last Thirlmere, which, from their situation and 

 character as pieces of water, I should suppose 

 would abound in fish. 



PISCATOR. Simply because I could not pro- 

 mise you sport in them. In each of them 

 there are pike as well as trout ; and that may be 

 one and probably is the chief cause that angling 

 is bad in them. Kydal lake and Thirlmere 

 are both tolerably preserved ; and as the trout 



