102 



stock is created, which scon becomes valuable to the 

 angler. 



Where old rivers supply canals, which in some places 

 follow the course of their beds, and in others break off 

 into branches containing locks, requiring at the same 

 time that iveirs should be thrown across the old channels, 

 to keep the water up ; in such instances, the track fol- 

 lowed by the vessels navigating the canals will invariably 

 be poached to the utmost. The fishes will be found in 

 file old river, and especially under the. weirs, where the 

 continual supply, and the rapidity of the current, which 

 usually digs large holes in those parts, induce trouts in 

 particular to lay. 



In good smart streams, the angler must not pass by 

 those parts which, being clear, and apparently shallow, 

 seem to be devoid of fishes. He will, on the contrary, 

 not unfrequently find, that such limpid Waters' contain a 

 number of excellent trouts, &c. which lay at the bottom, 

 and can only be perceived by long and stedfhst search $ 

 or which keep behind weeds, stones, &c. and under 

 shady parts of the banks, so as not to be distinguishable. 



In some rivers the gentry, though not proprietors of 

 tl e waters, take some pains to protect the fishes from 

 poachers ; who, if uncontrolled, or not prevented by 

 feme effectual devices, would speedily drag out all sorts 

 . nd sizes. 



The law has laid many restraints on angling, but has 

 If ft open a wide door for the admission of a thousandfold 

 of mischiefs in the netting way. It is inconceivable what 

 damage one sweep of a net does among very young fry, 

 and especially among the spawn. Yet the many low-lived 

 fellows who net the larger rivers, &c. and who deal in 



this 



