THE COMMON TROUT. 205 



gills, to have been caught by a highly respectable 

 and very round-faced clergyman of the Episcopal 

 persuasion, who silent though not unseen was 

 sipping some light summer tipple, and holding the 

 long slender stalk of a rather large yet delicate 

 thin-edged glass so neatly in his small white hand, 

 that we had known for several hours he was an 

 angler, thus proving how a naturalist, by the ob- 

 servance of a seemingly unimportant attribute of 

 the outer-man, may throw a flood of light upon his 

 prevailing character and disposition. It did not 

 appear, however, that the braggart himself could 

 identify with certainty a single parr, of which a few 

 had been slily placed upon the platter by some ob- 

 servant valet down below, probably as a memento to 

 him whose bark had been so much more powerful 

 than his barb. Now, we give him due warning, 

 that if he does not mend his manners, restrict his 

 imagination, and study the specific weight, dimen- 

 sions, and amount, of the few small fishes he may 

 chance to capture, we shall publish his name in the 

 Gazette, with no delay and less remorse, as an en- 

 sample to all who cast a stain upon our innocent 

 craft, by having thus 



" Forgone the home delight of constant truth, 

 And clear and open soul, so prized in fearless youth." 



The largest trout are usually killed by trolling 

 or spinning with parr, or minnow, and it is a matter 

 of great science to raise and hook, and of equal skill 

 to " play" and complete the capture, of one of these 

 giant fishes. We never ourself had the good for- 



