CHAPTER II 



A PAGE OF NATURAL HISTORY 



THIS is in nowise a scientific work, nor yet is 

 it a treatise upon the multitudinous varieties of 

 trouts and chars. There are many books upon 

 the latter subject; even the present writer has 

 had his say in "The Salmon and Trout of 

 America." This, as set forth in the Introduc- 

 tion, is primarily a popular description of the 

 ways of the eastern brook trout, though nearly 

 everything set down here as true of the eastern 

 fish may roughly be applied to his western rela- 

 tives. So while we do not plan to be dryly 

 scientific, yet a few general remarks regarding 

 the brook trout's history may not be out of place 

 and will clear the ground for the chapters to 

 follow. Be it said, the angler who knows most 

 regarding the life histories of the fish he seeks 

 derives the greatest enjoyment from his days 

 a-stream. It is evermore true that we get out 

 of fishing life too, as for that just what we 

 put into it. When we understand something 



