SUMMER. 45 



mud-loving tench and the undaunted perch, descendants, 

 may be, of the same fish which the Puritan lads caught in 

 the days before their father's farm was drenched with the 

 blood of Cavalier and Roundhead. On warm muggy days 

 when all creation seems to sweat, and there is thunder in 

 the air, that singular fish, the tench, bites well, and the 

 largest and most plentiful of them are to be found in the 

 most ancient of park lakes and monastic ponds. The sport 

 is not particularly exciting, but it requires to be conducted 

 with great care on account of the shyness of the fish. 

 Different is it with the pond perch, which is a great 

 encouragement to the youthful angler by the reckless 

 readiness with which it will, in its hungry moments, assist 

 him in imbibing a lifelong taste for the pastime. 



In the vicinity of large towns the angler sits by the water 

 side breathing at least fresh air, and surrounded by sights 

 calculated to make him forget the petty cares of life, or the 

 sordid belongings of a lot of poverty. He is content with 

 even the smallest result in the way of sport. That sport is 

 not of an extensive kind, nor of a high class, but he enjoys 

 it, and appreciates his little show of roach or dace, or 

 barbel, as much as the man of means appreciates his trout 

 or salmon. 



Summer time is also the period when that very remark- 

 able collection of fresh-water lakes known as the broads of 

 East Anglia are laid under contribution by anglers and 

 cruisers. These broads have a character of their own in 

 the angling of Great Britain, teeming as they do with 

 bream and other coarse fish. It is no uncommon thing in 

 a cruise up the waters from Lowestoft and Yarmouth, or 

 from Wroxham Bridge, which is the starting-point for the 

 upper broads, to pass hundreds of boats, each filled with 

 its earnest angling party. 



