13 , TROUT FISHING 



natural sciences tends to make the mind observe 

 closely ; and I will here state that no faculty 

 assists so much in making a man a successful 

 fisherman as that of observation does, and one 

 may pretty safely infer that the youth who observes 

 accurately and well,- will, if he perseveres, become 

 speedily skilful in his art: indeed it must be on 

 the development of this faculty that he must 

 chiefly confide for ultimate distinction. 



The tastes of fishermen, as of other men, are 

 very various. Some will condescend to fish for 

 nothing but the largest trout; some will only 

 fish quiet, almost still streams; and others only 

 rapid ones. Many are influenced more by neces- 

 sity than choice in the waters 'they fish, depending 

 on the special locality they may be in. But each 

 stream has its own peculiar and distinct charms. 

 Upon the stream and its country is the fisherman 

 dependent for many of the secondary pleasures, 

 derivable from the prosecution of his sport. 

 Should he prefer the deep, muddy stream, having 

 but little fall, and of sluggish monotonous course 

 the country for him to admire will probably be 

 flat, its outlines sober, and in accordance with the 

 dark, gloomy, sluggish stream he wanders by; 

 his movements too in fishing will be slow and 

 quiet ; he has time to observe the natural scenery, 

 whose character and the nature of his occupation 

 will conduce to grave and reflective thoughts. 

 The very fish harmonize with his sombre mood. 

 There they will be lazily basking in luxurious 

 idleness their bloated sides exposed to the 



