i8o ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



Otter. Faith ! we are a posse of pretty scoundrels, 

 and merit well the pillory for our intentions ; ne'er- 

 theless, we shall not draw back in the matter. 



Exeunt. 



We possess no lengthened record of the black- 

 fishing alluded to in the above conversation. It 

 seems, however, that Tom Otter took no inactive 

 share in the proceedings of the evening, and actually 

 slaughtered with his own hand a trio of huge kippers, 

 much to the satisfaction of his friend Leister ; who 

 thenceforward prided himself not a little in having 

 vanquished so effectually the scruples of his brother 

 angler. The burning, or water-foray, as it may appro- 

 priately be termed, proved on the whole a successful 

 one. Seventy fish, salmon, bull-trout, and grilses, bit 

 the shore ; yet, strange to say, so monstrous and sinful 

 a butchery elicited no further comment from the late 

 traducer of the spear-system, than " 'tis a marvel the 

 simple fools knew not their element better ! " A con- 

 vivial meeting was held by the club on the following 

 evening, which was attended by Leister, Otter, Swivel- 

 top, Gaff, May-fly, and Hackle. 



The year was now drawing to a close, and our 

 anglers had resolved to lay aside for a time the im- 

 plements of their craft, and betake themselves reso- 

 lutely to the more serious occupations of life. 



A sketch of the farewell feast, devised and parti- 



