TROUT FISHING. 261 



and, in truth, except that this is the first southern pond of any note, I 

 would hardly advise the angler to pause here. 



" About a mile and a half farther eastward is a large pond, and a 

 fine house, both recently constructed at a great expense* by Judge 

 Jones the former exclusively designed as a fish-pond. The place 

 has, however, passed out of his hands, and the house is now kept as a 

 hotel by one of the Snedecors. The pond has hitherto been private, 

 but is now open, though with a limitation. It is well-stocked with 

 fish of a fair size. When I was last there, a fortnight since, a gentle- 

 man had taken eight fish, weighing as many pounds, with the fly that 

 morning. The largest did not exceed a pound and a half, but they 

 were handsome, clean, well-fed fish, and, as the day was anything but 

 propitious, easterly wind, and very raw and cold, I considered it fair 

 sport. He had not been fishing above a couple of hours. I under- 

 stand, however, that there are many Pike in this pond, and in the 

 stream that supplies it ; and I much fear that this must ultimately 

 prove destructive to all the fish in the water, although those resident 

 on the spot assert that the Pike never grows in that region to above 

 half a pound, and rarely to that weight, and that little, if any, detri- 

 ment is observed to arise from his presence. 



" This, however, I cannot believe, for the growth of the Pike is 

 usually almost as rapid as his voracity is excessive ; and I am aware 

 of many instances, both in the United States and in England, where 

 ponds and streams, excellently stocked with Trout, have been utterly 

 devastated and rendered worthless by the introduction of this shark 

 of the fresh waters. 



" The house is well-kept, as is almost invariably the case on Long 

 Island ; and I have no doubt that the angler may pass* some days here 

 with pleasure. 



" Some miles beyond this, still keeping the southside road, we come 

 to Babylon, where there is an excellent house, under the management 

 of Mr. Concklin, of whom all accommodation may be obtained, both 

 as regards fowl-shooting in the bays and Trout-fishing in the neighbor- 

 hood. There are several ponds and streams more or less well-stocked 

 in this vicinity, but none of any particular note, either for the size or 

 flavor of the fish. 



" Such, however, is not the case with the next station at which we 



