THE TROUT. 37 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE TROUT. 



NEXT in importance to the salmon, in the estimation of the genuine 

 angler, stands the trout. He is the standard commodity of the 

 enthusiastic rod-fisher. There are many expert and experienced 

 fly-fishers who never enjoyed the unique and exciting luxury 

 of hooking and killing a salmon; but no man can fairly lay claim to 

 the appellation of an " angler/' if he cannot kill trout with the rod 

 and line, in some way or another. There is something about 

 trout-fishing which has exalted it in all eyes above every other 

 branch of the art, except, of course, that of salmon-fishing. If we 

 attempt to analyse tins preference, we shall find it resolve itself 

 into something appertaining to the attributes, qualities, or habits 

 of this beautiful and interesting fish. He is an intellectual kind of 

 creature, and has evidently a will of his own he looks sagacious 

 and intelligent : he sedulously avoids thick, troubled, and muddy 

 waters, loves the clear mountain stream, displays an Ardent am- 

 bition to explore the rivers to their very source ; is quick, vigour- 

 ous, and elegant in his movements likes to ^ have the ex- 

 clusive command of the stream keeps up a rigid system of 

 order and discipline in the little community of which he is a mem- 

 ber exhibits a remarkable degree of nicety and fastidiousness 

 about his food is comparatively free from vulgar, low, and gro- 

 velling habits entices his pursuer into the loveliest scenes of 

 nature's domain' calls forth from man, his great enemy, the. 

 utmost efforts of his ingenuity and skill ; and, in a word, in every 

 stage of his existence, preserves a superior and dignified demeanour 

 unattainable by any other living occupant of the streams. 



These may be styled the social and intellectual qualities of this 

 glorious fish. His physical constitution is equally entitled to our 

 respectful consideration. He boasts a prepossessing and fascinating 

 figure, moulded in strict conformity with the most refined princi- 

 ples of symmetrical proportion, sparkles in all the gorgeous colours 

 of the rainbow, and occupies a distinguished position in the im- 

 portant science of gastronomy. 



These seem to be the most prominent reasons why the trout holds 

 so high a rank in the angler's estimation. There must be mind, 

 real or imaginary, in everything which enjoys human attention, in 

 order to fix our serious consideration and secure our lasting esteem. 



The trout, in disposing of its sjoawn, follows the identical rules 

 which govern the salmon in this important process. He runs up 

 rivers, and torrents, and brooks in the months of September ana 

 October, and seeks out the most retired water, flowing over gravelly 



