170 TEOUT FISHING 



limited in his education, and I would recommend 

 him earnestly to pay attention, without further 

 delay, to the subject ; and when he begins to 

 master the art, he will indeed rejoice that so rich, 

 so pleasing, and animated abranch has been opened 

 up to him, from which he will reap many fruits of 

 pleasure. I have said I exclude all worm-fishing^ 

 when the float is capable of being used. For those 

 who have taste to potter about a pond and catch 

 muddy carp, &c., or pull out a few trout in this 

 way, books in abundance by men of experience 

 may be found; they will, however, but little please 

 the North Devonian, I am sure, and have nothing 

 to do with my immediate subjects ; and as regards 

 fishing for trout in any stream rapid or slow, 

 when the water is muddy as after sudden and 

 violent rain, I consider such occupation but one 

 degree remote from the poacher's practice of 

 catching trout with night lines. For those who 

 would practise this worm-fishing in muddy streams 

 only, I have nothing to say, we are dissimilar in 

 tastes ; but for the fisherman who may chance 

 some day to be caught in a thunderstorm, which 

 suddenly makes the river very muddy, and would 

 thus stop his occupation and drive him home, I 

 will only say, the best thing he can do if the 

 water is to remain all the day muddy is to go home ; 

 but if he is determined to remain, he may fish on 

 the same principles as those I shall lay down for 

 worm-fishing on bright days and clear streams, 

 and provided the water is not rising he mav fill 

 his basket quickly. 



