34 ART OF ANGLING. 



hooked. The third is called the kill-devil, and 

 although, in appearance, not near so like a real fish 

 as the other, yet it spins so well, and is so much 

 softer in the mouth, that it answers, I think, the best 

 of all plans, when you cannot procure the natural 

 bait. Any good fishing-tackle shop will furnish these 

 articles, and therefore it would be a waste of time 

 and of paper to give a minute description of them." 

 The following is the best way to dress a Trout. 

 " Directly it is caught, crimp it, with about four cuts 

 on each side, taking care to let the blade of the 

 knife be in a sloping direction, so as to make every 

 incision rather circular, and parallel to the gills ; in- 

 stead of having the blade of the knife perpendicular, 

 by which you would cut too much across the fleaks, 

 and the fish would not be near so firm. Then put 

 the fish in cold spring water, or pump on it for 

 about ten minutes ; having done this, put the fish 

 away, not in water, but on stones ; or in short, in 

 the coldest place you can find. When dinner is 

 nearly ready, clean the Trout, leaving the scales on, 

 and then pump on it for a few minutes more. 

 Then have a kettle of water with a large handful of 

 salt dissolved in it, and when the water properly 

 boils, put the fish in ; and an average sized Trout 

 (say one of a pound weight), will be done in about 

 ten minutes, and should then be sent immediately 

 to table. " 



