ADDENDA. 145 



MINNOW. The genial influence of April whets up 

 the appetite of the fish, and greatly augments their 

 food, when the general angler must suit their tastes 

 under each varying circumstance of weather and water. 

 In addition to the increase of flies, the minnow, bull- 

 head, and loach leave their winter coverts and spread 

 themselves about in the water, supplying a substantial 

 food for the trout, whenever it is his mood to run at 

 them. The minnow is the principal bait, but the trout 

 at times will run at any of them ; it is fished at all 

 times and in all waters. At the first spring of a flood 

 the trout is often seen in anxipus pursuit of them, and 

 also at its full flow, in the stills close by the sides, 

 where he then resorts. As the flood recedes, particu- 

 larly the following day, when the water is dark brown, 

 the minnow gives glorious sport and the finest of trout ; 

 it is also fished in clear water through the day, unless 

 neglected for some favourite fly. If the weather is 



water like minnows. Their time in fresh water seems long compared with 

 their stinted growth, but it may be required to prepare them, and to mature 

 their irresistible instinct to migrate into salt water, where their colours and 

 quick growth plainly proclaim their royal origin. In autumn all the salmon 

 and salmon tribes in the broad salt waters of the H umber and Ouse ascend 

 the rivers that run into them, for the purpose of depositing their spawn in 

 fresh water. Vast numbers crowd up into the contracted course of the Ure 

 and distribute themselves in its streams, as they may, all the way up as far 

 as they can get, or as far as there is sufficient water for them. After perform- 

 ing their duties lor the preservation of their offspring, they all make back 

 again to salt water as fast as they can. In October and November, when 

 they are in our streams, their flesh, like that of others in similar circum- 

 stances, is impoverished and unwholesome, and longer they remain in 

 them worse they grow. All fresh waters that are open to the salt tides of 

 the sea should be places of sanctuary and safety for them ; they are an 

 annual god-send into the streams, for another purpose than unseasonable 

 slaughter ; and all true anglers and right-thinking men, will not take or in- 

 jure them, but view them with admiration, and wish them safe back to their 

 destined element, where they soon recover, and become the seasonable game 



