14 TROUT. 



distant water with gold, the Trout may be observed feeding 

 on the shallows, and driving the minnows and other small 

 fish in shoals towards the shore, being as voracious in that 

 respect as their mortal enemy, the Pike \ their mouth is 

 admirably adapted for the purpose, the jaws and tongue being 

 studded with small teeth, they are thus enabled to destroy 

 multitudes of small bleak, minnows and gudgeons." 



u Next to the lordly Salmon, to which, to my mind, it is 

 quite equal in beauty, the Trout may be considered the most 

 game of fresh- water fish. Who, that has ever experienced 

 it, can forget the first rush of a noble Thames Trout in full 

 season, especially if the Angler be spinning from a weir ; he 

 dashes down the run, some sixty yards or so, like a flash of 

 lightning, making the line whistle through the rings, and as 

 if determined to carry all before him ; now he rises to the 

 surface, and springing out full a yard, throws a somersault in 

 the air, and tries by that means to rid himself of the hooks ; 

 but the skilful Angler frustrates this little device, by lowering 

 the point of the rod and meeting him half-way. By careful 

 management he is at last tired out, and his captor taking 

 advantage of of a moment's quiet, descends from his position 

 on the weir, and safely lands his prize on the grassy bank 

 below." 



The Spinning Rod I use is of mottled cane, about thirteen 

 feet in length ; light and somewhat springy, as the bait and 

 trace being rather light (unless when fishing very rapid water) 

 the spring of the rod will be found of great assistance in 

 throwing the bait. The rod should be in four pieces for 

 convenience of carriage and with two extra tops ; a large 

 wooden button should be screwed to the socket of the butt, 

 to press against the hip when spinning. I always use the 

 check-winch ; with a spring handle, to allow of the handle 

 being turned over when not in use and save it from the 

 chance of being bent by a fall or blow. Some prefer the 

 hardwood winches. Instead of allowing the line, in spinning, 

 to lie at their feet in the usual manner, they throw the line 

 directly from the winch, using rather a long rod, and wind 

 it in again on to the winch instead of drawing it in with the 

 hand. But as these wooden winches, or reels, run extremely 



