TROUT FISHING 



those streams left us so far as may relate to the 

 rapidity and depth of their course. 



There are certain principles which regulate the 

 Art of fishing, as they do every other Art, and 

 these principles in themselves have appeared to 

 me to be simple enough when rightly understood. 

 We shall by-and-by be occupied in the simplifica- 

 tion of these principles, endeavouring to reduce 

 them to a few truths, and render them intelligible 

 to the veriest tyro that ever handled a rod. 



I doubt not there are many who would much 

 desire to fish, if they could do so with sufficient 

 success to be entertaining, but who, being en- 

 gaged the greater part of their time in business 

 occupations, are unable to adapt their busi- 

 ness to their pleasure, and learning that sport 

 with the trout is only to be obtained on special 

 occasions and particularly favourable days, are 

 timid to hazard their brief leisure time, and try 

 their skill in such commonly called precarious 

 and variable sport, and from fear of being dis- 

 appointed in their endeavours are altogether 

 debarred the pleasure of many delightful rambles 

 by the sides of streams which would lead them to 

 country beauties, and afford them delight to be 

 obtained by all at the expense of a little patience 

 and perseverance. Indeed the strongest, though 

 perhaps most common argument, it would seem 

 that is adduced against fishing for trout is, that 

 it is uncertain and requires a very large amount 

 of time to understand the details of the system, 

 and more especially, as is usually urged, the 



