206 AMERICAN FISHES. 



of mine, on whose authority I can perfectly rely, and to whom I gladly 

 record my indebtedness for many facts stated in this paper, assures 

 me that he has never knowp Trout to take the fly more freely than 

 during a northeasterly snow-storm. Still, I must consider these as 

 exceptions to the general rule ; and I at least would select, if I had 

 my choice, ' a southerly wind and a cloudy sky' — always barring 

 thunder — and no objection to a slight sprinkling of warm rain. 



" There is another peculiarity to observe in the Long Island waters 

 — and, so far as I know, in them only — that Trout bite decidedly 

 better and more freely, when the water is very fine and clear, than 

 when it is in flood and turbid. Indeed, if there be a good ripple on 

 the surface, the water can hardly be too transparent. 



" It has been suggested to me, that this may be accounted for by 

 the fact that in flood the waters are so well filled with natural bait, 

 that the fish become gorged and lazy. I cannot say, however, that 

 this is perfectly satisfactory to me ; as the same must be the case, 

 more or less, in all waters ; whereas it is unquestionably the case, 

 wherever I have fished, except on Long Island, that Trout are more 

 easily taken in turbid than in fine water. 



" As connected with the foregoing remarks, I will here add, that, 

 as a general rule, the minnow, with spinning or trolling tackle, is 

 found to be more killing than ground bait in the ponds, and vice versa, 

 in the tide streams — probably from the mere fact that the minnow is 

 the rarer in the one water, the red-worm in the other, and that each 

 by its rarity becomes the greater dainty." 



Beyond this I have nothing to add, with respect to Trout-fishing, 

 with the exception of a few very general observations on the most 

 likely times, seasons, and places in which to fish for the Trout, since 

 the mode of taking them with the fly is in all respects the same as 

 that already given under the head of Salmon-fishing, the modes of 

 casting for, striking and playing these kindred fishes being in all 

 respects identical. 



In the first place, I am clearly of opinion that for very early fishing 

 in March and April there is no place on this continent at all compa- 

 rable to Long Island, where all along the south shore they can be 

 taken in numbers almost innumerable, in every pond, stream, and salt 

 creek, until the end of July, when they cease to bite freely. It is 



