Salmon and trout

Abstract

The Atlantic Salmon At 9.30 the entire contents of the biggest fly-book would not make one of them stir a fin. For instance, Mr. R. Brookes, who pubhshed in 1740 a treatise on angling which went through numerous editions, says, " The most usual baits are a large, gaudy. Artificial Fly, Lob worms, small Dace, Gudgeons, Bleaks and Minnows which should be often varied in order to suit the Humour of the fickle Fish, for what he likes one day he will despise the next." Nicholas Cox, whose great work, " The Gentleman's Recreation," antedated Brookes by over half a century, says of the salmon, " he biteth best at 3 of the clock in the afternoon in the months of May, June, July and August," that when obstructed in their passage to the sea " they have grown so impatient that clapping their tails to their mouths with a sudden spring they have leapt clear over Wear or any other obstacle which stood in their way." Mr. Cox also says that there is " no bait more attractive of, and eagerly pursued by Salmon than Lob worms scented with the Oil of Ivy berries or the Oil of Polypodies, or the Oil of Oak mixt with Turpentine; nay, Assa-Foetida they say is incomparably good." I give these examples, which might be indefinitely multiplied, from the earlier angling writers, to show how easily History and Habits 5 the novice who seeks instruction as to sahiion from his library may be deceived. Indeed, it is not only the archaic authors whose information and advice are misleading-many of modern times show almost equal indisposition or incapacity to refrain from unwarranted statements as to the habits and disposition of this noble fish.