4 TROUT FISHING 



brook. He lias, I will grant, on these large 

 streams fine opportunities for sport ; and perhaps, 

 at the end of the day, a handsome dish of large 

 trout for his friends but in his walk he has not 



" enjoyed the variety of scene and sport, the wild- 

 ness of nature, the bold unbroken outline of 

 country, which so much enchants the frequenter 

 of the moor streams, wandering for hours, alto- 

 gether undisturbed by man, in full and unlimited 

 enjoyment of some of the most magnificent 

 country England can boast of, and called by his 

 art to traverse a much greater extent of it than 

 he possibly could do were he engaged on a greater 

 breadth of water. The little merry stream itself, 

 bubbling and splashing, sporting and bounding 

 along, is at one time bursting through the narrow 

 channel left it by opposing rocks to precipitate 



itself hastily, and then angrily escape its narrow 

 bounds to swell out again as though to assert its 

 own freedom and determination of course; then 

 again is it nestling into the bosom of a tranquil 

 pool, to the delight of the old fish, thither retreat- 

 ing in advancing years, to end their days in com- 

 parative ease and luxury. But the stream sleeps 

 not, for, lo ! again is it spreading itself out widely 

 over the shingly bottom, sparkling in the sun, 

 and undulating onwards, till meeting an opposing 

 bank it deviates from a straight course, and darts 

 now again with greater declension hastily to one 

 side, to form again another course ; thus falling 

 and collecting, twisting and turning, then smiling, 

 now threatening, again placid and yet again 



