mill-ponds. I, myself, hare seen spots of what 
I called Petroleum, of at least a foot circumfer¬ 
ence, swimming about in a marsh-pond In this 
vicinity. There is one spot in town so com¬ 
pletely saturated with oil that it absolutely 
becomes maggoty every summer! This state¬ 
ment may appear rather improbable to those 
unacquainted with oil districts, but all who have 
been “initiated'* have probably noticed like 
phenomena. 
But I 1 am admonished by the length of this 
article, gentle reader, to postpone further par¬ 
ticulars for some future occasion. Before clos¬ 
ing, however, permit me to inform you that 
there are many false and absurd stories afloat 
about as Bristolians which are wholly unworthy 
of credence. Wo don’I 
wayside watering places 
oil our “ Vermont stock 
and given, as also such general rules for spelling 
as were illustrated by the lesson. 
I complimented Miss Dunnatamle upon the 
accuracy of her pupils. 
“ It is all done by being thorough, and under¬ 
taking but one thing at a time,” she replied. 
“ I commenced with spelling, alone, and have in¬ 
troduced the general principles of punctuation 
gradually. I have not yet promoted my class to 
commas, as some of them are not sufficiently 
versed in grammar to understand the rules. I 
have them spell once a day in the old-fashioned 
manner, ami learn all they can by it, and once a 
day I exercise them thus.” 
The advantages of this system are the follow¬ 
ing: 
First— Engaging the pupil’s causality, com¬ 
parison and imitation, it produces a deeper im¬ 
pression upon the memory than the common 
system. 
Secondly—It trains the eye and the hand to a 
habit of correct spelling on paper; that is, it 
teaches spelling, practically. 
Thirdly—It gives to all the beneflt of spelling 
the entire lesson, aud obliges each to profit by 
the mistakes of all. 
Fourthly—It is capable of being modified to 
suit the advancement of every class of pupils. 
Fifthly—it furnishes a thorough and contin¬ 
uous review of the most common words of the 
language, which are precisely those the pupil 
will find greatest occasion to use in after-life. 
Sixthly —It supplies an excellent course of 
triahing iu punctuation, the use of capital letters, 
and what may bo termed the accidents of or¬ 
thography. 
Home-ehisses. arranged upon this basis may 
be made very entertaining and instructive. 
Wn.S on’s Treatise on Punctuation would supply 
the young home-teacher with such information 
on the subject us he might need to fit him for 
his new position. Frank Babbitt. 
Coidwnter. Mich., 1864. 
PEACTICAL; POPULAK EDU0ATI01J 
FOR YOUNG MEN AND BOYS. 
SUPPOSED DISCOVERY OF PETROLEUM OR 
ROCK OIL. 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
MISS DUNNSTAELE’S spelling-class. 
From the New York Independent. 
Ix the beautiful city of Poughkeepsie, X. Y., 
on the Hudson, has grown np an institution of 
learning that has acquired such widespread rep¬ 
utation, and whose merits are so well estab hed, 
that it deserves more than ordinary notice. We 
refer of course to Eastman's National Bu¬ 
siness College— a report of which, prepared 
by CIeo. W. Bungay, Esq., of the New York 
IVibune, occupies an entire page of our paper 
this week. The influence this institution is ex¬ 
erting upon the nation, and the growing favor 
of practical useful education, which is not to be 
overlooked, will cause]this report to be read by 
young men, parents, and educators in general. 
la point of success this College may be classed 
among the first in this country, if not really first, 
as it enjoys a regular attendance in all the de¬ 
partments of more than twelve hundred students, 
representing every loyal State in the Union. 
And notwithstanding the large patronage, such 
is the gov 'mment and superior .management of 
the entire College, and such is the discipline and 
good order that prevails at all times in the study 
departments and in the boarding-house, as to 
cause general Temark and commendation from 
citizens and patrons. The great success of this 
institution may be attributed .entirely to its judi¬ 
cious management’aud the energy and ability of 
the President, Prof. Eastman, in] introducing 
and carrying out a great principle of actual busi¬ 
ness [training, combining theory aud practice. 
This novel and pre-eminent mode of instruction 
is entirely original with him, and is claimed by 
him and the many friends of the College to pos¬ 
sess merits over every other system ever devised 
for developing the business capacity of young 
men. and preparing them for active life. 
We have had our leaders in every other de¬ 
partment of education, and it is gratifying to 
know that we have one in commercial science. 
It is clear to every reflecting mind that our 
general systems of education have been wanting 
in that practical character which fits a man for 
the active duties of everyday business life, and 
it has been unfortimate that this matter has re¬ 
mained so long neglected. To effect this much, 
needed reform no man has worked so effectually 
as Prof, Eastman through the great Business 
College he represents. 
He has instructed hundreds of young men 
every year with great success, repudiating, as 
far as wisdom dictated, old systems, J and con¬ 
stantly improving upon the’ new methods until 
he has brought out a system of practical instruc¬ 
tion which will work a revolution in this de¬ 
partment of education. 
As might be expected, imitators of his system 
of Actual Business Training are springing up in 
some of the cities, but the various forms aud 
blanks used in giving instructional re so well se¬ 
cured to him by law, through [copyrights, that 
they can uever meet with but indifferent suc¬ 
cess— and Ln no place could it be introduced and 
carried out so perfectly as here, under the super¬ 
vision of its author. 
The institution is patronized very largely by 
our most eminent merchants, and not a few of 
the leading business houses here are indebted to 
it for valuable assistants in the capacity of ac¬ 
countants, book-keepers, or salesmen. Two 
young men from this office, who have just re¬ 
ceived their diplomas there, will enter upon 
responsible duties in business houses this week, 
and thus put in practice at once the]valuable in¬ 
formation they have acquired during their course 
there. Having watehed»their progress, we are 
enabled to indorse the institutionlunderstand- 
ingty, and commend its superior^ advantages to 
parents who have sous to educate. The terms 
are reasonable, and the student can enter upon a 
course of study any day in the year. 
The reader will have a fair} idea of this insti¬ 
tution if he can picture to himself Wall street, 
with its banks and insurance offices, its ex¬ 
changes and commercial hous e and the Board 
of Brokers, the Commercial (Exchange, the mar¬ 
kets, the telegraphs, transferred to the beautiful 
banks of the Hudson, and alive with young men, 
instead of thoughtful men of middle life, and 
older men still riper in experience. 
All necessary information may be found in Mr. 
Bungay’S report in this (paper, [or any furthe 
, particulars desired may be had by address iu; 
, Prof. Eastman, the President, at Poughkee*- 
. sic. N. Y. 
. Note. —The Supplement of the Independeit, 
s containing the interesting report of the course 
i of study, aud management of this Instituton, 
also contains the excellent SermouTof Key. 
Henry Ward Beecher, preached in Ply¬ 
mouth Church the week previous, r ’ Persons can 
. obtain one or more of these papers, free of charge, 
by addressing Prof. E astman, as above. 
Undoubtedly 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker 
some of your many readers have a curiosity to 
know something more definite concerning the 
real prospect of finding Petroleum, or “Rock 
Oilj” in our vicinity. If this be your mind, be 
good enough to grunt me the pleasure of inform¬ 
ing them. 
Although Bristol is locally known to be one 
of the most active and enterprising towus in 
Ontario county, probably quite a majority of 
those who read the Rural have barely heard of 
its existence. Certain it is that only a small 
proportion of them are acquainted with its 
geographical and geological features. Allow me 
to say, then, of the former, that sojourners in 
our neighborhood, and those who casual!^ pass 
through our country, are very apt to leave us 
with erroneous and unfavorable impressions. 
Especially is this the ease when an eastward 
or south-western course is taken; for, in 
spite of the many redeeming qualities (moral, 
mental, agricultural and religious,) which our 
quiet little town does actually possess, the poet 
did not caricature Bristol over - much when 
he wrote. 
Our hills are high, our valleys deep, 
Our roads are had, onr gulleys steep, 
Our creeks are water mixed with mud, 
With bridges mow, every flood; 
In short, my muse and I are bound 
No rougher spot was over (bund. 
But I forbear in deference to those incompar¬ 
able excellencies, which, in this case, (as, indeed, 
in most others,) attend roughness and deform-' 
ity. Suffice it to say that, by internal convul¬ 
sions, and by external washings the face of 
my beloved parent town bears unmistakable 
signs of age and suffering. Probably, should a 
sage-like geographer deign to point his micro¬ 
scopic eye in this direction, he would at juice 
pronounce the “surface of Bristol exceedingly 
varied and uneven.” 
I am thus particular about details, because 
you must know that it has been knowingly 
whispered of late among the savans that a large 
tract of land hereabouts is literally afloat on an 
ocean of Petroleum! 
In the course of a visit paid to one of our 
Union School* not long ago, I was particularly 
interested by the exercises of a certain class in 
spelling, or, perhaps. I should say dictation. The 
method pursued had been practiced here with 
entire success for several season*, and it seemed 
to me worthy of adoption into our common dis¬ 
trict, schools. T append tin outline of the recita¬ 
tion to which l li*tened. as a better illustration 
and recommendation of the system than any 
thing else I could say of it. 
Miss THjnnstabi/e’s spelling-class, I would 
promise, uuinbered fifteen. Lesson had been 
assigned for study from Sander’s Fifth Reader, 
that happening to be the text-book in use by the 
pupils. It commenced thus: 
LESSON LXXXV1. 
The Christian’s Hope. 
“ Say, what is hope?” I asked an ancient sage, 
With tott'ring gait, nud headquite white with age. 
Class sat in line facing their teacher. Their 
Readers were piled tip ou her table. Each 
pupil was provided with a pencil and a clean 
slate. 
“Attention to dictation,” said Miss DuNN- 
STABLE. 
As soon us every eye was fixed upon her she 
commenced pronouncing the lesson, a few words 
at a time, in a slow, distinct manner, class wri¬ 
ting what she repeated. 
“ Lesson eighty-six.” 
Writing by class. 
“Title:—‘The Christian’s Hope.’” 
Writing, as before. 
“First line of poem:—* Say, what is hope?”’ 
Writing. 
I asked an ancient sage.’ " 
Writing. 
“ Second line:— 4 With tott’ring gait,’ ” etc. 
When each pupil had completed a fair copy of 
the eight lines comprised by the lesson, she was 
desired to attach her signature thereto. 
“ I am very particular ubout two or three lit¬ 
tle things,” -aid Mi.'* Pi/NNSTABLE tome, “I 
demand the full attention of my class. I main¬ 
tain an appearance of perfect leisure that no one 
may fail through a feeling of being hurried. I 
speak so as to be distinctly heard. I pronounce 
no more words at one time than each student 
can fully retain. I never give out a second set 
of words till the first has been written by every 
member of class. This done, T do not encourage 
inattention by repeating anything twice. These 
trifles aid greatly, 1 find, in training my pupils 
to habits of attention aud accuracy.” 
“ Change slates!” said the lady. “Pa-s them 
from the foot to the second above you.” 
No. 15 passed her slate to No. Iff for correc¬ 
tion; No. 14 sent hers to No. 12: No. Iff gave 
hers in turn to No. U, and soon; the two at the 
head sending their* to No’s. 15 and 14, at the 
foot. Sometimes, as 1 was told, slates were cor¬ 
rected by the first pupil above, sometimes by the 
first or second below, and occasionally toward or 
from the middle of class. This was intended to 
prevent trickery. 
“Attend to correction,” said Miss Dunnsta- 
BLE. 
Class Intent ou mistake-finding. Errors, on 
being detected, were underscored and num¬ 
bered, and at the close of recitation announced 
to the teacher, who, iu turn, made a weekly 
report of the class, and read it to the assembled 
school on Friday. 
Miss Dunnstable commenced spelling the 
lesson aloud:—** Capital 1-e-s-s-o-n L-XXX Yl, 
period.” 
“ Title: —Capital t-h-e, capital c-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n- 
apostropho-s, capital h-o-p-e, period.” 
“Any mistakes?" 
“Olive Brown has spelled lesson—lessen,” 
answered a little girl. 
“ And Mary Books 1 ’aykr has left the apos¬ 
trophe out of her Christian's," said auother. 
“ Miss 1 >unN8TABLK, 1 know how to spell les¬ 
son,” said On vjc Brown, “butsometimes when 
I go to write It 1 can't think which way it 
ends." 
“ You may go to the black-board, Olive, and 
write out a little couplet, which will, 1 think, 
help you to recollect the termination: 
My great grand son 
Musi, learn hi* les son." 
Mary Bookstavf.k’k ea*e was similarly dis¬ 
posed of, though by the application of a differ¬ 
ent principle, and spelling was resumed. 
“Quotation marks, capital s-a-y, w-h-a-t, i-s, 
li-o-p-o, interrogation point, quotation marks,” 
etc., etc. 
Mistakes wore pointed out at the end of every 
two or three lines, corrections thus made being 
better remembered than when more was under¬ 
taken at once. 
Occasionally rules were called for. 
“Give the rule for your capital s.” 
“ It begins a piece of writing,” said one. 
“ And a line of poetry, too, ” answered 
another. 
“Why did you not write your whole fif/e iu 
capitals as it is printed in your Readers ?’’ 
“ It is’nt the rule to write a title so because it 
would look awkward." 
“ If you were writing something for the print¬ 
er that you wanted put in large capitals, what 
would yotl do?” 
“ Place three straight lines under it.” 
“ If you should wish something in small cap¬ 
itals?” 
“ Put two Hues underneath.” 
“ ln italic ?” 
“One line.” 
Rules for periods, quotation marks and inter¬ 
rogation points, were iu like manner required 
‘grease our boots at 
as. yet, neither do we j 
in Mud Greek before 
shipping them to the Western market; and, 
although Bristol la unquestionably a very gaseous 
neighborhood, (don't be backward about giving 
•■gaseous" its full import.,i yet to my certain 
knowledge we haven't thrownaway tallow can¬ 
dles and fire-wood, nor even “gone mad” over 
the prospect of immediately having a cheap 
and excellent sulistitute for them. I might fur¬ 
ther add that but very few of our citizens have 
“eschewed heel-plates” for fear that s<jme stray 
sparks might ignite our •‘combustible atmos¬ 
phere.” In short, all marvelous rumors about 
“floating wells” in our cellars, about dipping 
buckets of oil (double refined) out of wash-tubs 
and cisterns, are sheer fabrications, for which 
no righteous judge will hotd my good townsmen 
accountable. More anon. Mate Rey. 
Bristol, N. Y., March 7,1361. 
P. S.—I took it for granted, in writing the 
above, that you bad ail heard of the determined 
effort we are now making to discover whether 
our hopes of finding oil are Utopian, or whether 
they do really rest ou a “ slippery ” (I mean Pe¬ 
troleum) foundation. It may be well, however, 
to subjoin a word or two under this head. Let 
me say. then, to those who have not been fortu¬ 
nate enough to see the several articles which 
have appeared in the Democrat and Canandaigua 
papers, that at the present time there is a set of 
hands at work about three-fourths of a mile 
south-west from Muttonville, who have already 
explored the bowels of mother earth 50 feet and 
upwards. These hands were hired from Oil 
Creek, Pa., and appear very sanguine of success. 
The “ boss ” workman has even invested heavily 
in the enterprise. The stockholders number 
twenty-five of the most substantial business men 
in Ontario. They have a cash capital of many 
thousands, aud will push the thing until fully 
satisfied, 
What an Educated Man ought to 
Know.— Ruskin says:—An educated man ought 
to know three things: First, where he is—that 
is to say, what sort of a world he has got into; 
how large it is: what kind of creatures live iu 
it, and how: what is it made of, and what may be 
made of it. >oeondly. where he is going—that 
is to say. what chances or reports there are of 
any other world besides this; what seems to 
be the nature of that other world. Thirdly, 
what he had best do under the circumstances— 
that is to say. what kind of fac ulty he possesses; 
what are the present state and wants of man¬ 
kind; what are the readiest moan.* in his power 
of attaining happiness and diffusing it. The 
man who knows these things, and who has 
his will so subdued, in the learning of them, 
that he is ready to do what he knows he ought, 
is an educated man: aud th Oman who knows 
them not, is uneducaietl, though lie could talk all 
the tongues of Babel. 
So you perceive, at once, 
the vast importance of any topographical knowl¬ 
edge I may impart in case of explosion or other 
accident. 
But to be more serious. In a beautiful valley 
situate about seven miles west of Canandaigua, 
and ruuningsinuously from Naples to Bloomfield, 
is, at present, the centripetal seat of ajmost 
unparalleled excitement! Here it has been 
recently discovered are unmistakable signs of 
oil — the precious and wonderful Petroleum! 
The above-mentioned valley, (vulgarly known 
as Mud Creek Hollow.) averages about one-half 
mile in width, aud lies between two lofty chains 
of wood-covered hills, running north and south, 
which, for height and beauty can hardly be 
beaten this side of the Andes.. All through the 
district inclosed by these embryo Himalayas, 
especially in the bed of the creek, and in the 
numerous ravines shooting up on to the moun¬ 
tains from either side of it, are, it is supposed, 
abundant surface indications of Petroleum. 
It may not be improper for your correspond¬ 
ent to state right here something concerning the 
marked similarity between the lay and geologi¬ 
cal make of this locality and the various regions 
where oil has actually been discovered. I will 
do this as briefly as possible, in the meantime 
begging a thousand pardons if my poor pen un¬ 
wittingly becomes a little prolix or tedious. By 
consulting our “State Geological Survey," it 
will be seen that the town of Bristol belongs 
partly to the Chemung and Portage Group of 
rocks Which crop out all along its southern bor¬ 
ders, and partly to the Hamilton G roup which 
lie mainly to the north of us. It is hardly 
necessary to state that both of these subdivisions 
belong to the Great Devonian Formation, which 
is the father of the Old Red Sandstone, with its 
myriads of coral, mollusks and reptiles. Now, 
the particular rock universally identical with oil 
regions, (both in Europe and this country so far 
as 1 am able to learn,) is the species called Black 
Shale, which abounds in the afore-mentioned 
groups, particularly in this immediate locality, 
in fact, the entire foundation of our town may 
be said to be composed of this very material. 
Of course these facts are not infallible proof 
that oil exists here; but there are many other 
evidences. In oil territories- there is observable 
a constant escape from the earth of carbureted 
hydrogen gas, which, at certain points, called 
**springs,” may be burned indefinitely. Now, 
this gas (l speak understanding!)’t is neither so 
plentiful at Oil Creek, In the South-Western 
States, or in Canada, as in Bristol. Probably 
within a mile square of Muttonville a thousand 
springs might be lighted, which, unless out¬ 
wardly Interfered with, would, for aught I 
know, burn incessantly. Iudeed, 1 estimate too 
moderately ? for there are the best of reasons for 
believing that figures would not express the 
number of springs actually existing in our val¬ 
ley. The whole creek bottom for miles is 
covered w ith them. All that needs to be done 
at any time to kindle a tire is to dig a hole 
through the shell-like crust of clay surfacing 
our land, and then to apply a torch at the open¬ 
ing. The phenomena of bright and variegated 
lights shooting up here and there over our Hol¬ 
low, lights which require no fuel to feed them, 
and which have the appearance of burning air, 
or waning camp fires when viewed from a dis¬ 
tance. attract hundreds of visitors to our town 
annually. 
Then, besides the above facts, thoro are many 
other indications of oil equally if not more con¬ 
vincing. We have an abundance of bituminous 
matter floating on our wells, brooks, creeks qnd 
So my next communication to you 
may possibly be written under the light of 
future developments. Mate. 
COLD, DRY ASHES DANGEROUS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— This is an old 
discovery, though not generally known. Many 
a housewife charges her help never to pul hot 
ashes into the box or barrel of cold ashes, be¬ 
cause the cold may take fire. At length the hot 
ashes, with some coals on tire, are put into or 
upon the others, and the barrel or box is soon on 
fire, and the wood-house where it stood is on fire 
also. Many a house has been set on fire in this 
careless manner; and not a few thus destroyed. 
Cases have been reported, talked over, printed. 
and thus the people warned. The teacher and 
the chemist have often taught this to classes, and 
I have taught it to thousands. The fact is that 
neither wood nor carl is completely consumed in 
common combustion; but there remain with the 
ashes tine particles of wood or coal, diffused but 
imperceptible to the eye. Take some of the cold 
ashes and spread over a red-hot iron and the 
bright burning points of the carbon will at once 
be seen. The chemist who analyzes pit-coal, is 
obliged to burn the ashes so as to consume all 
these fine particles. 
The first rule of the house about ashes should 
be, never pul them in barrels or any wooden ves¬ 
sel, but into a brick or stone pit. Then, the 
“cold, dry ashes” cease to be "dangerous,” and 
the caption ought to be changed. 
A friend of mine put a plank across one corner 
of the wood-house, on the sills, and into a barrel 
put the ashes; all was well for two or three 
years; when hot ashes were put into an opening 
in the middle of a barrel two-thirds full 
A Plea for the Bihcii. — The principal 
of a public school in England sent circulars to 
the parents of his pupils, asking for written 
authority to '‘inflict such punishment, corpo¬ 
real or otherwise,” as might in his judgment be 
proper. The following answer proves that ono 
of the paTcuts, at least, was pleased with the 
idea:—“Dear Sir: Your flogging cirklar is duly 
receaved. I hopes as to my son John you will 
flog him just so often as you like, dices a bad 
boy is John. Although I’ve been in the habit 
of teaching him myself, it scents to me will larn 
nothing—his spelling is spe-shali ottragusly defi¬ 
cient. Wallup him well, sur and you will 
rcceave my hearty thanks. Yours, Moses 
Walker. P. S.—'Wat accounts for John being 
sieh a bud scollar is that he’s my sun by my wifs 
first husband.” 
Perseverance. —ln the Latin it is asserted: 
He will never enjoy the sweets of the spring, 
nor will he obtain the honey combs of Mount 
Hybla. if he dreads his face being stung, or is 
annoyed by briars. The rose is guarded by its 
thorn; the honey is defended by the bee. 
A Comclkte Practical Guide to tub Art op Dan 
cinu. By Thomas Hillokovi:. Illustrated. New 
York: Dick & Fitzgerald. 
Wu judge this to be a very complete manual or guide 
In the practice of this graceful accomplishment. It is 
very fully illustrated with figures, showing positions, 
&c., and gives iu detail the rules of etiquette which 
should govern dancers. For sale by R. E. Clarke. 
Price 50 cents. 
Before 
night the barrel had blamed through at the bot¬ 
tom and the wood-house was on fire. The hot 
ashes were dangerous. 
Another friend built a large brick ash-pit in 
his cellar. It had contained ashes for some years. 
At length, hot ashes were thrown upon some 
bushels of cold ashes in the pit. After some 
hours the air came up so hot from the cellar, that 
the house was- alarmed. No fire or smoke was 
perceived; yet all knew there must be fire. The 
least stirring of the ashes showed that they were 
a mass of tire. Had the ashes been in a wooden 
box, the combustion Would have been obvious, 
perhaps terrible. 
Now, Mr. Editor, with the warning, please to 
say. that some who read this ami the previous 
warning, will doubtless put up their ashes in 
wooden vessels as before, with all this dan- 
f 
ger. C. D. 
Diary op a Detective Police Oppickr. By 
“ Waters." New York: Dick & Fitzgerald 
This book purports to have been written by a Lon¬ 
don Detective, and illustrates London life among the 
different classes that claim the attention of the secret 
police. Whether true or false, the stories arc very well 
told, and are, doubtless, salted with a base of reality. 
Certainly an active detective cannot fail, with much 
experience, to accumulate the material for interesting 
aud startling stories, n will be (bund an interesting 
railway companion. For sale by K. E. Clarke. 
Price 50 couts. 
Thackeray. Tub Humorist and the Man op Let 
TEits. The story of his life and library labors. By 
Theodore Taylor. To which is added, In Meiuorl- 
nm by Chas. Dickens, and a sketch by Anthony 
Trollope. With Portrait and Illustrations. New 
York: 1). Appleton A L'o. 
England is being overrun with a Hood of what a 
distinguished contemporary calls “Thackerayana,’ 1 
just now. This book, reproduced in this country, Is 
one that has been throw n into the stream to catch pop 
ular favor and pence. It contains much that illustrates 
the character of Thackeray, and many pleasant rem- 
Intsinees of Ida vis! t to t his country some years ago, and 
of the appreciation he manifested of the kind and cor 
dial manner in which ho was received here. Some of 
his public speeches are reproduced and these pages 
will interest those who already know this man by his 
writings. For sale by Steele * Avery. Price ? 1 25. 
Pisciculture in England.— The London 
Times says the attempts to create an interest iu 
the cultivation of fish iu England have com¬ 
pletely failed, except in the matter of salmon, 
which is now furnished in comparative abun¬ 
dance. The limes attributes this failure to the 
popular dislike to fresh water fish as an article 
of diet. There is scarcely a fish in the streams 
which any man would care to eat who had the 
means of purchasing a bit of meat. Trout are 
but little eaten and eels are getting scarce: club, 
roach, dace, Ac... are considered worthless, aud 
the finer varieties, such as pike, tench, and gud¬ 
geon, are treated merely as accessories to a din¬ 
ner and not as a substantial article of food. 
