THE RIVER-TROUT. 2^$ 



ZlynJk'tf a lake of South Wales, are trouts marked Vv'itK 

 red and black fpots, as large as lixpences. la Loclt 

 Neagh in Ireland, and Hulfe Water in Ciimherlaiid, there 

 are trouts taken which weigh about thirty pounds. 

 Thefe are probably ot the fame fpecies with the celebrat- 

 ed trout of the lake of Geneva. The fiz-e alone of thefe 

 fifhes can recommend them ; for in title and flavour they 

 are all inferior to our coniaion river-trout. 



It is remarkable that neither the Greek nor Roman 

 authors make any mention of this fiQi, and that a fpecies 

 of fuch delicacy fhould never hare become a falhionable 

 diili. In the Italian rivers the trout abounds, and in all 

 probability did i'o at the time when the Romans we're 

 tranfporting cyders from Sandwich *, and the livers o£ 

 the fcciri from the coart of Africa f. But it was per- 

 haps owing to its proximity of lituation, and to the eafe 

 with which it might be procured, that the trout was de- 

 fpifed by the votaries of Epicurus, who fcrupled not to 

 iavifh a large fortune on a diih of flammingo's tongues, 

 and other infipid rarities J. 



It is the voracity of the trout that leads the way to 

 its cltflru£lion, and makes it a prey to the inventions of 

 the angler. The paffion for angling is fo great, that in 

 the neighbourhood of London, ten pounds a year is the 

 fum paid for the liberty of fiihiqg in fome of the adjacent 

 rivers. 



But there is a fmaller fifh in fome parts more plentiful 

 than the trout, which affords fuperior diverfion to the 

 fportfman, and that is the parr, a fifh of remarkable 

 beauty, and elegant proportions. This beautiful fpecies 



is 



• Juven. Sat. iv. 141. •(■ Suetonius in Vita Vltcllii. 



% MiirtiaJ, Lib. xii. Epig. 71. 



