PRACTICAL ESSAY. 

 THE TROUT. 



There is scarcely a river in England in which the trout is not to 

 oe found. It is in greatest abundance in the mountain streams of 

 the north and west, and of the largest size in the streams of the 

 south of England. While a half-pound fish is considered a good 

 one in the north, fish under that weight are turned back again in 

 some southern streams; and while the angler in Coquet baskets six 

 or seven dozen of fish in a day, three or four brace are accounted 

 sufficient in the south. The Thames trout is caught up to twelve 

 and fourteen pounds in weight, but there are not many of them. 



Trout spawn in late autumn, and come into season about March, 

 being best about June. 



More has been written about trout fishing than any other kind ; 

 and, indeed, there is so much to be said, that I find it difficult to 

 compress into the short space at my command sufficient to give an 

 adequate idea of this fine sport. 



The commonest and most successful way of fishing for this beau- 

 tiful fish is by fly-fishing. For this purpose your rod should be 

 light, pliant, and springy ; your line either consisting of silk and 

 horsehair, or fine dressed silk : the former is stiffer and better when 

 out, but the latter runs better through the rings. Their advantages 

 seem to me to be about equal. To the end of the running-line is 

 attached a " cast " or " collar " of fine gut, about 7 feet long. To 

 this are attached three artificial flies, one at the end called the 

 " stretcher," and the others called " droppers," at invervals of 2 feet, 

 suspended from the cast by short links of gut. 



Of rods : there are double-handed rods about 16 feet in length, 

 and single-handed rods for which 1 2 feet is a good length. A single- 

 handed rod will suit most men best, and is more convenient for 

 narrow streams. 



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