FISHES AND FISHING. 181 



nautical concern before-named, I had had a passport, 

 which enabled me to pass through the gates of Calais 

 either way, with any number of persons in my com 

 pany, at any hour of the night ; and as the Com 

 mandant often wanted me to go out of the port, or 

 into the Bas Ville, he redated the parchment docu 

 ment, and stated thereon that I was to [pass free. 

 This was the advantage I derived from being his in*. 

 terpreter, as thereby I could go out on the port. 



Any remittance from England was out of the ques 

 tion, whilst matters were in this unsettled state as 

 regarded the English detenues, and as all I possessed 

 nearly was vested in the vessel before named, upon 

 which the French government first laid an embargo, 

 and then confiscated : whether the Swedish captain 

 obtained any compensation I do not know, I did not ; 

 so that I was obliged to be very careful of every sous. 

 There was a large canal of fresh water, part of the 

 moat of the fort at Calais ; seeing some French boys 

 catch small fish close to the edge, I considered I might 

 obtain larger ones by fishing farther out, and having 

 a very long rod, I tried the experiment, and caught 

 many roach and perch of half a pound each ; and by 

 laying eel lines, whilst I was angling, I often added 

 a good-sized eel or two, making very acceptable din 

 ners and suppers, which my knowledge of angling 

 fortunately afforded me. 



