Esox. 175 



A gentleman in the north of England, who was 

 as enthusiastic in regard to the '' gentle craft," as 

 old Izaak Walton himself; on reading an account 

 of some species of sea-birds being trained to bring 

 home to their masters the fish caught during the 

 day, w^as struck with the idea of trying a similar 

 plan with the domestic water-fowl. 



Having a considerable sheet of w^ater near his 

 residence, he procured a large goose, and having 

 attached a line about three fathoms in length, with 

 a hook suitably baited, to one of its legs ; he placed 

 it in the water, to swim round at its pleasure, 

 while he remained on the bank anxiously watch- 

 ing the success of his experiment. 



After half an hour or more of expectation, he 

 was gratified by hearing a loud cry from his feath- 

 ered assistant, which in great alarm at the part it 

 was so suddenly made to perform, was wheeling, 

 diving, and screaming at a ludicrous rate ; now 

 making an involuntary sub-marine excursion, and 

 anon striving in vain to abandon the regions of wa- 

 ter for those of air. 



The contest between the fish and its captor, 

 lasted a considerable time, the latter using every 

 exertion to gain the shore, and the former mani- 

 festing an invincible repugnance to accompany him. 

 The issue seemed long doubtful, but finally, after 

 a severe struggle, during which every inch of 



