358 TROUT AND ANGLING. 



are consequently prepared to deal with him as 

 soon as he reaches terra firma, which is not always 

 realized without serious consequences to an appa- 

 ratus, a little too delicate for this species of fishing. 



Though we profess to feel nothing like a mor- 

 bid sensibility, nor to expend our small stock of 

 compassion upon this maritime monster, yet we 

 have feeling ; but it would be affectation to say 

 that under these circumstances we have no ill 

 will towards the sculpin, considering the great 

 disappointment he has occasioned us by not being 

 a trout. 



We would not however, torment this much 

 abused fish by thrusting a stick into his jaws and 

 turning him adrift, thereby putting an effectual 

 veto upon his " biting times/' as some of our chil- 

 dren do ; we would merely put him out of harm's 

 way as effectually and as speedily as possible, with 

 that tenderness which a due regard to his feelings 

 and our own comfort may dictate. His indomita- 

 ble love of his native element, is evinced by fre- 

 quent short and powerful jerks, but finally having 

 baffled his spirit of opposition, and with quite as 

 much regard to the safety of our tacMe, as to his 

 views of a change of element, dragged the unwil- 

 ling monster to the sand, we disregard the ang- 

 ling rule, by which one should 



" Gently disengage; and in the stream again indulgent throw.' 



