198 PISHES AND FISHING. 



came and questioned us. I said, we were upon the 

 waste, and not on the forest ; however, a glass or two 

 of strong ale, and a similar quantum of brandy, made 

 all right with him, and he advised us to go to Hog- 

 hill pond, where he said there were immense carp 

 and tench but we never tried it. 



I was induced upon one occasion to angle in a large 

 pond for tench. I caught several about three-quar 

 ters of a pound each, but then, on having a bite, I 

 found a large eft, or newt, or asker, on my hook, 

 which had taken my worm. The gardener who 

 owned the pond, said, " Ah ! when these varmint 

 begins to bite, the tench leaves off; " and this opinion 

 is confirmed by old authors, whose works I have. 



I have generally caught tench by baiting with a 

 worm, but it is said a sweet paste is very excellent, 

 and I have found it so in the Serpentine river ; some 

 advise a little tar in the paste, but I never tried it. 

 One of these fish from a river is much superior to 

 any from a pond, unless it have a marly gravel bot 

 tom ; they do not, commonly, as it is said, exceed 

 five or six pounds weight, but one was taken at 

 Thornville Royal, Yorkshire, which weighed twelve 

 pounds. In the lake at Apse Court, Moulsey, Surrey, 

 I know one was taken above eight pounds ; several 

 of those taken near Henhault Forest, as before-men 

 tioned, were full seven pounds. 



