CHAPTEE IV 



THE TEOUT 



Next in importance to the salmon, in the estimation of 

 the genuine angler, stands the trout. He is the standard 

 commodity of the enthusiastic rod -fisher. There are 

 many expert and experienced fly -fishers who never 

 enjoyed the unique and exciting luxury of hooking and 

 killing a salmon ; but no man can fairly lay claim to the 

 appellation of an " angler " if he cannot kill trout with 

 the rod and line in some way or another. There is 

 something about trout-fishing which has exalted it in all 

 eyes above every other branch of the art, except, of 

 course, that of salmon-fishiag. If we attempt to analyse 

 this preference", we shall find it resolve itself into some- 

 thing appertaining to the attributes, qualities, or habits of 

 this beautiful and interesting fish. He is an intellectual 

 kind of creature, and has evidently a will of his own — 

 he looks sagacious and intelligent ; he sedulously avoids 

 thick, troubled, and muddy waters, loves the clear 

 mountain stream, displays an ardent ambition to explore 

 the rivers to their very source ; is quick, vigorous, and 

 elegant in his movements — likes to have the exclusive 

 command of the stream — keeps up a rigid system of 

 order and discipline in the little community of which he 

 is a member — exhibits a remarkable degree of nicety 

 and fastidiousness about his food — is comparatively free 

 from vulgar, low, and grovelling habits — entices his 

 pursuer into the loveliest scenes of nature's domain — 

 — calls forth from man, his great enemy, the utmost 

 cff'orts of his ingenuity and skill; and, in a word, in 



