AND ANGLING SONGS. 233 



to leave an unfavourable impression of the streams mentioned ; 

 but being pursued by me under disadvantages, I am not entitled 

 to form from it any estimate of their capabilities as trouting 

 waters. Of Troutbeck I had a better opportunity of judging, 

 being under the guidance, in fishing it, of my friend and old 

 Billy ; and, moreover, having the good fortune to find it more 

 than once in prime ' fettle.' It was the season of the year when 

 the large trout of Windermere took opportunity, on the occur- 

 rence of a flood, to leave the lake and ascend to spawning 

 quarters. In these days it was not, as at present, and very 

 properly, held injurious to the stock, or out of character with 

 fair sport, to angle for them, when so employed. In fact, how- 

 ever, they were not to be taken readily out of the lake itself, 

 when at their prime, unless with nets ; nor in Troutbeck at any 

 other period than the fall of the year. It was considered also 

 that such as were caught by the rod and line a mere trifle in 

 point of numbers to what were secured by other devices showed 

 some condition ; and I still retain the recollection of two speci- 

 mens of the Windermere trout, taken by my friend from Trout- 

 beck on one of these occasions, which, when cooked, were red- 

 fleshed, curdy, and palatable ; nor, in respect to shape or external 

 appearance, could any exception be taken to them. Holding the 

 purpose of the trout, however, at that season in view, I am far 

 from defending the impolicy of angling for them, and feel un- 

 willing to have my opinions on this subject misinterpreted, by 

 allying them with the thoughtless indiscretions of more inexpe- 

 rienced days. The two trout above mentioned, three-pounders 

 at least, were the only ones which we had the hap to come across, 

 or found in taking humour. I still bear in recollection the odd 

 terms made use of by Billy Balmer, on the capture of one of 

 them, which had displayed more than a common degree of bold- 

 ness and voracity while seizing and bolting the worm. ' He 

 bees a gorgeous tyke,' meaning a greedy fellow, ' and a rite 



