CLOSE OF THE SEASON. 171 



hook appearing in any degree checked, and not defer 

 doing so until we sustain a direct and palpable assault. 

 But you employ too large a bait, and compress it arti- 

 ficially round your wire, like a soap-ball, designed to 

 cleanse the outside rather than tickle the palate. A 

 bit the size of a horse-bean is sufficient ; and note you, 

 Bill, allow it to cling to the steel-barb, as you naturally 

 remove it on your finger-point from the jar which con- 

 tains it. But I have hold of something huge ; 'tis a 

 sea-trout methinks, black, lubberly, and impotent. He 

 wallops down the river without half his ordinary 

 strength, and can with difficulty draw out a fathom of 

 line from my reel. I pity the poor fellow, and should 

 I land him, shall suffer him to escape. He is of no 

 account out of his element save as manure ; even 

 crows would pick lazily at him ! 



May. Toss him to me, Tom, he will aid wonderfully 

 the filling of my pannier. 



Otter. Nay, nay ; 'tis a fish forbidden, and must 

 off out of sight in a twinkling. There are water 

 bailiffs about the place, that no doubt keep eye upon 

 us ; moreover, I have a certain strong respect for 

 the close-season, and am unwilling to violate the 

 enactments relating to it by the detention even of 

 a paltry finnock. 



May. This sounds well ; but, faith ! 'tis somewhat 

 questionable. I had rather trust gold with a knave 

 than a goodly salmon with thee, Master Otter, be the 

 day of his capture when it might. Were not this a 



