CONTINENTAL STATES 281 



the only place where a fly had a chance of doing 

 anything was in gurgling streams. 



"A few days after this I was with my rod at 

 La Chhze, and spent two days in wandering on the banks 

 of the IA&. I had now provided myself with some 

 worms, and was fully bent on trying the shade-fishing 

 where it was practicable. I suffered dreadfully, how- 

 ever, from the heat, in making my way through the 

 thickets and brushwood that skirt the river-sides. I 

 succeeded in taking two fine trout about a pound and a 

 half each, and of the richest hues I had ever seen, 

 when they first came out of the water. But in half an 

 hour after they became nearly black. 



" After rambling for nearly fourteen days, and throw- 

 ing a line, in passing, into several small streams, I 

 arrived at the town of Guingamp, on the river Trieux, 

 one of the best streams for trout in all Brittany. I 

 remained at this place about a week, and had capital 

 sport, all with the fly. I caught nearly four dozen fine 

 trout in as many hours, and extremely rich fish they 

 were. I dined daily ofi' the fruits of'TOiy spoil, and 

 gave the residue to my landlady, who received them 

 with many expressions of thankfulness. 



" I preferred the higher parts of the stream to those 

 nearer or about the town. A few miles from it, the 

 river divides into two branches, but they both lead to 

 the M^n6 range of hills, as their sources. Below the 

 town the bed of the stream gets too broad for angling 

 purposes, although I one day stood upon some stone 

 steps — which are placed above a mill-weir, close to the 

 town, for the purpose of enabling people to pass over to 

 the other side — and, being aided by a pretty good curl, 

 I got four very fine fish, with the spider black fly. 

 They were nearly half a pound each. 



" Having spent the winter at Morlaix, I started in the 

 following April on foot, to fish the river Vilaine, and 

 as many of its tributaries as I could find convenient or 

 pleasurable. I had a rough passage to its upper streams, 

 and met with some unpalatable meals, and not very 

 luxurious beds ; but the zealous angler abroad must not 



