TO FLYFISHERS. V. 



passing by Middleham, Masham, Hackfall, Mickley, 

 Tanfield, Bipon, Boroughbridge, and Great Ouseburn, 

 where it takes the name of Ouse. It flows through 

 the soundest and richest soils ; over rock, stone, and 

 gravel; alternate stream and deep, for above fifty 

 miles. The verdant slopes and steeps along its sides, 

 severed by ceaseless rills and gathering brooks, con- 

 tribute to its stores. At Ripon it is a fine flow of fresh 

 water. Vast weights of Salmon pass and repass an- 

 nually, filling up every part with abundance of Smelt. 

 About three miles below it is navigable, and blocked 

 by dams, which form safe and exhaustless preserves 

 for large Trout and Pike-pools of the first order. It 

 abounds with all the fresh water fish that is found in 

 our finest rivers. Its trout cannot be excelled, in either 

 color or quality ; and it breeds in abundance all the 

 aquatic Insects, minnows, bullheads, loaches, etc., 

 that fishes feed upon. The Laver and Skell are smaller 

 and shorter streams, meandering through mead and 

 woody shade, over stony gravel, stream, and deep, 

 peculiarly suitable for the trout, which are their prin- 

 cipal occupants ; wherein they thrive and grow to a 

 good size ; and, keep out the net, quickly recruit into 

 great numbers. The City of Ripon stands near the 

 junction of these three streams, which renders it, with 

 its other attractions, a delightful and one of the best 

 angling stations in England ; and also a suitable lo- 

 cality for observing their insect productions, with the 

 times of their appearance, from which those of other 

 streams may vary, according to situation and tempera- 

 ture. Nature is the fountain of order ; her systems 

 must be pursued to distinguish any portion of her vast 



