76 TROLLING TN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



into a boat, the sport degenerates into an act of 

 wanton cruelty. By fishing with a dead bait, and 

 by instantly killing a fish as soon as it is landed, 

 but little pain is inflicted, and perhaps not more 

 than every animal suffers in being deprived of 

 life for the purpose of becoming food for the use 

 of man. I am the more desirous of mentioning 

 this, because there are many persons who think 

 that angling and cruelty are synonimous terms. 

 I have however entered elsewhere more fully into 

 this subject. 



I cannot conclude this account of the plan I 

 have recommended for trolling, without assuring 

 my readers that I have practised it for many years 

 past, and with continued success. I have two or 

 three worthy disciples in my neighbourhood, who, 

 following the example I have set them, frequently 

 enjoy excellent sport. I can also appeal to many 

 of my brother anglers who now and then pay me a 

 visit, and also to the Thames fishermen who reside 

 near me and have been in the habit of attending 

 me in my piscatory excursions, as witnesses of the 

 success I generally meet with while trolling in the 

 manner I have described. This method, is, I 

 think, infinitely to be preferred to the gorge, snap 

 or beed-hooks so generally used, and which have 

 been recommended by both antient and modern 

 writers on angling. Experience alone can prove 

 this. 



