THE INGLORIOUS DEATH OF A THAMES TROUT, 113 



o'clock train was considered at least energetic ; then the 

 two o'clock train came into fashion, and now we get 

 down in time for dinner. Tempora mutantur. 



The Thames gives amusement and sport to a vast 

 number of anglers who for various reasons have 

 no better field ; and as most of them have duties to per- 

 form during the week, Sunday is generally regarded as 

 a fishing-day on the suburban rivers in the south, in 

 contrast to the custom in the north oE England and 

 Scotland, where if such practices were indulged in they 

 probably would soon be relinquished. 



The Thames angler, as a rule, gets little sympathy 

 shown him by the occupants of pleasure craft, and he 

 who fishes from the bank has a poorish time of it, being 

 perpetually obliged to lift his line from the water to 

 avoid oars, sculls, towing-lines, or punt-poles, which 

 continually pass in dangerous proximity to his tackle. 



As pleasure-seekers on the Thames will contain few 

 anglers in their ranks, no doubt this inconvenience to 

 bank-fishers is caused more from thoughtless ignorance 

 than any wiKul desire to annoy; so if their atten- 

 tion were drawn to the matter, we cannot but think 

 that the result Avould be beneficial to anglers. 



When men are really rowing up under the towing- 

 path, a divergence into the stream to avoid an angler's 

 tackle upsets the boat, or rather the rowing, for a few 

 minutes; and when such courtesy is shown, it should 

 be acknowledged, which is not always the case — perhaps 

 the angler has not recovered from astonishment before 

 the boat has passed by. 



