76 In Pursuit of the Trout 



small — six or eight to the pound. Here and 

 there, a monster of half a pound, or even 

 three-quarters, may be taken with worm or 



fly- 



Simonsbath is a little settlement in the 

 midst of the wilds of Exmoor forest. I am 

 referring to Exmoor proper, and not to the 

 district commonly known by this name, 

 which is of wide extent. This place, with 

 its green plantations and few slight buildings, 

 is an oasis in a wild but beautiful tract ; 

 nor do its simple and scanty signs of civilisa- 

 tion harmonise ill with the desolation around. 

 A church, with a few labourers' cottages, an 

 inn, and picturesque old mansion-house ; add 

 to these the fir plantations, that afford a 

 shelter from the winter storms, and you have 

 the civilisation of Exmoor complete. More 

 than one attempt has been made to reclaim 

 the forest. Many years ago, a mansion- 

 house on a far more pretentious scale was 

 commenced, but never completed ; there it 

 stands to this day, grim and untenanted save 

 by the starlings, which build there in the 



