62 THE HUNTER AND TEAPPER. 



your rod ineanwliile. If they are likely to see you^ 

 you had better squat down while you are baiting your 

 hook. You should have a basket with you to slip the 

 trout in as you catch them, occasionally putting in some 

 leaves to prevent their getting jammed. Putting them in 

 a bag spoils them, by their continually rubbing together ; 

 but a basket and leaves kee-p them looking as beautiful 

 as themselves. I saw the handsomest picture of a trout 

 in the American Agriculturist, that I ever saw. 



In fishing for trout, you must keep your bait continually 

 moving, with a sort of twitching motion, or floating down 

 with the swift current. Mind you, they lie and watch 

 just at the foot of the little rapids in the creek, to catch 

 any live worm or hopper that will help to fill a hungry 

 belly. If you have no bait, a piece of woolen rag may 

 catch one, and then you can cut a bit of what is called the 

 throat-latch, or of the narrow part next to the tail, and 

 upon this put a little assafoetida, and they will bite 

 it well. 



The best time to catch the trout, that is, the time when 

 they are in the best condition to eat, is about the middle 

 of April. From this to the middle of May or first of 

 June they are good, but not so good as earlier in the sea- 

 son. In the fall they move to their spawning ground, and 

 perform their important duty before the fall of the leaf. 

 While they are on their beds, they clo not seem to be so 

 easily frightened, and you may often see hundreds lying 

 close to2;ether. 



