94 ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT FISHERIES 



that I have seen two trouts, near a pound weight each, 

 taken out of the belly of the large ones. They are taken 

 with nets, but will sometimes rise at the fly ; their strength, 

 however, makes them very difficult to take. 



" One indeed I killed by accident, for it had taken the fly 

 as my rod was lying over the edge of the boat ; it dragged 

 the rod into the water, and then struggled with it till weary. 

 The fish weighed upwards of 7 pounds, and was the only one 

 I ever caught with a line. 



"They are a very fine fish when caught in the proper 

 season, and even those killed in the streams are by some 

 much relished when pickled or dried." 



