1 6 THE ANGLING CLUBS AND PRESERVATION 



and at the ferry ; but, ' Bill,' says I, * this trout ain't yourn, 

 and for why, cause Muster Fubsy bin a fishin' wi' you, Bill, 

 off and on, a matter of a score o' times, ole days and arf 

 uns ' — though I never was the man to arst for a ole day's 

 pay for a arf un — ' and that theer trout, Bill,' says I, ' is 

 Muster Fubsy's fish by rights ' ; and so I brings him 

 straight up to you, sir, and theer he lays — a beauty as 

 he is — wi' spots on him as big as a crown piece, werry 

 nigh." 



" But, in the name of fate, William," cries Fubsy, carefully 

 putting his spectacles on the bridge of his nose, " how 

 did the trout get into your punt ? " 



" Chucked hisself in, sir — chucked hisself in, which it is 

 well known they will do arter a bait, or else a leaping out 

 o' the water arter a butterfly or what not, and so the pore 

 Greater hadn't the sense to chuck hisself back again, and 

 theer he is. Blessed if I ain't as dry as bones, a-talking so 

 much." 



" William, you're a very worthy and honest fellow — a 

 very worthy fellow indeed, William. There's a sovereign 

 for you, and I'm much obliged to you, while Mary will 

 draw you a jug of ale. Good morning, William. Good 

 morning." 



The end draws nigh. William at any time during that 

 day may be discovered at the bar of the " Angler's Rest," 

 where for the hundredth time, at least, he tells the story of 

 " that theer trout a-chucking hisself high and dry into the 

 old punt." The trout goes to Cooper, and when it comes 

 home, at the expiration say, of six to twelve months, it 

 may perhaps bear an inscription to this effect : " Thames 

 Trout caught by A. J. Fubsy, spinning. Weight, nine 

 pounds." 



In my own opinion the abolition of night-lining is the 



