THE TROUT. 165 



periment ; as there are authenticated cases of trout and 

 carp coming for their food upon the ringing of a bell. 

 It is not understood that there is much sense of touch 

 in the mouth of fishes, and that the fixing a hook there 

 does not affect them much, unless it interpose with, and 

 prevent, the action of those muscles, upon which the 

 motion of the gills and the operation of respiration 

 depend. But that they are not destitute of sensibility 

 on the general surface of their bodies, is proved by the 

 well known operation of tickling a trout ; in the course 

 of which, the fish, instead of making the least effort to 

 escape, will press itself against the hand, as if to invite 

 a continuation of the enjoyment. 



When out of the water, trout appear to feel a great 

 deal of pain ; and as that is an unnecessary continu- 

 ation of suffering, anglers generally dispatch them the 

 instant that they are off the hook. Eager fishers, when 

 they have a prospect of success, sometimes neglect 

 that, and we once witnessed rather a ludicrous retri- 

 bution. A gentleman, who is now a professor in one 

 of the universities, was a great enthusiast both in 

 literature and angling ; and as he lived in a fine retired 

 part of the country, well adapted for both, he generally 

 pursued them together by the bank of the river. 

 When it was unfavourable for the rod, he took up the 

 pen ; and when the shadow or the breeze came, the 

 rod was resumed. One day he had succeeded in 

 landing a fine trout, which he put into his basket alive, 

 and as the time was favourable, he began to fish with 

 double ardour : but his hook got entangled in the 

 bank, which was rather steep, covered with long grass 

 and bushes, and contained the holes of water-rats, 



