An old mode of catching trout by tickling them with the hands under rocks or banks. Shakspeare makes the clown in "Measure for Measure" say that Claudio's offence was
"Groping for trouts in a peculiar river."
·p.pr. & ·vb.n. of <<Grope>>. ...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
·adv In a groping manner. ...
On Tower Hill (Wheatley). Mentioned 1642. Not named in the maps. ...
A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
The carrying despatches, and cruising from port to port in soundings. ...
The Sailor's Word-Book