270 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



throwing his fly, now his tackle is prepared, I fear little useful instruc- 

 tion can be given, as skill and dexterity, in this point, must depend 

 upon practice. I may, however, advise him not to attempt to cast a 

 long line at first, but to try his strength, and gain facility by degrees. 

 He must make up his mind to hear many a crack, like a coachman's 

 whip, and find the consequent loss of his flies, before he can direct 

 his stretcher to a given point, and let it fall on the water lightly as a 

 gossamer. When I come to speak of the different Trout streams in 

 the neighborhood of London, and elsewhere, I shall recommend the 

 flies to be used for the place and season ; in the meantime, 1 shall 

 attempt to describe the haunts of the Trout. 



" He is fond of swift, clear streams, running over chalky, lime- 

 stone, or gravelly bottoms ; but he is more frequently in the eddies, 

 by the side of the stream, than in the midst of it. A mill-tail is a 

 favorite haunt of the Trout, for he finds protection under the apron, 

 which is generally hollow, and has the advantage of being in the eddy, 

 by the side of the mill-race, awaiting his food. He delights also in 

 cascades, tumbling bays, and wiers. The larger Trout generally have 

 their hold under roots of over-hanging trees, and beneath hollow 

 banks, in the deepest parts of the river. The junction of little 

 rapids, formed by water passing round an obstruction, in the midst of 

 the general current, is a likely point at which to raise a Trout ; also 

 at the roots of trees, or in other places where the froth of the stream 

 collects. All such places are favorable for sport, as insects follow the 

 same course as the bubbles, and are there sought by the fish. After 

 sunset, in summer, the large fish leave their haunts, and may be found 

 on the scowers, and at the tails of streams ; and during this time, so 

 long as the angler can see his fly on the water, he may expect sport. 

 Unfortunately, when the deepening shades of twilight drive the sports- 

 man home, he is succeeded, on dark nights, by the poacher, with his 

 night-lines ; and, I am sorry to say, that the north-country angler 

 gives too faithful a picture of this night-fishing, which he himself 

 practised. 



" And now, having told the young angler where to search for fish, 

 I must strongly impress upon him the necessity of keeping out of 

 sight of the fish, for, if once seen, not any kind of bait he can offer 

 will tempt a Trout to take it ; therefore, approach the stream with 



