194 FISHES AND FISHING. 



occasions of their meeting, to visit him at his 

 sylvan residence ; and, amongst other inducements, 

 promised, though he was no angler himself, to 

 afford his friend the sport of angling in his water. 

 This attracted the Londoner ; a day was fixed, and our 

 angler arrived with a full complement of rods, lines, 

 baits, &c., and was anxious to commence ; but no ! 

 luncheon wag first to be disposed of; after which the 

 host introduced his friend to his water, which proved 

 to be a little round basin, not wider than the length 

 of one of the rods the angler had brought with him. 

 As must be naturally imagined, the visitor was disap 

 pointed and vexed, though he did not choose to shew 

 his vexation ; and, on the assurance that there were 

 perch in the pond, he put his tackle together, and the 

 moment he dropped his bait into the water, he hooked 

 a fine perch ; another, and another, followed ; and 

 when his friend came to tell him dinner was ready, 

 and enquired as to the success he had had, the angler 

 showed him thirty-five perch. " Well !" said the 

 good-hearted host, " I am glad you have had such 

 sport ; I caused three dozen to be put in the day be 

 fore yesterday.*' " Oh !" replied the angler, " I will 

 take the other, and then I shall have nothing to do in 

 that way, after dinner." 



Another anecdote, arising through perch fishing 

 may be introduced here. A tanner at Esher, having 



