PIKE-PERCH AT WOBURN ABBEY. 353 



aud, ship going at half- speed, the voyage lasted sixty 

 instead of forty-eight hours (air being pumped into the 

 carriers by the fishermen and sailors every half-hour), 

 arriving in London on Sunday midday. There they 

 were met by servants of his Grace the Duke, who took 

 charge of the carriers, and conveyed them to the railway 

 station, about three English miles distant. The fish 

 were there again supplied with fresh water, and started 

 on the two-and-a-half hours' journey to Bedford. On 

 arrival, carriages were in waiting to convey the fish to 

 the estate, four English miles more, where his Grace 

 received them in person at the door of his mansion, 

 " Are the fish alive ? " he called out. " Alle lebendig," 

 answered Nielsky, the fisherman. It had now become 

 night, and the fishermen had to transfer the fish to the 

 lake by lantern light ; twenty-three were very lively, the 

 twenty-fourth being rather doubtful. His Grace had 

 him cooked for dinner ; four fish, two male, two female, 

 were placed in one sheet of water, the others in a lake 

 of about twenty to thirty acres, which was full of small 

 fish but no pike, the gravelly bottom being eminently 

 suited for Zander. 



" This excellent result has succeeded — first, through 

 the initiative of the much-esteemed President ; second, 

 there v/as no lack of money at the disposal of Mr. Dall- 

 mer ; tbird, Mr. Ballmer's thorough knowledge of the 

 habits of the fish ; fourth, having a trustworthy practical 

 fisherman as conductor ; fifth, the great assistance 

 afforded by the railway and ship officials ; sixth, the 

 very friendly assistance of Messrs. Kuhnert, without 

 whom the expedition would not have succeeded so well ; 

 and, seventh, good luck. The fish were taken from the 

 Sclileswig Lake on the 25th January, and arrived at 

 their destination on the 3rd February, thus being nine 



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