116 BY HOOK AND BY CROOK. 



thus generated being neutralized by a drop or two of 

 old Scotch. 



The small punctures which "let in^' had doubtless 

 been made by thorns picked up while walking through 

 woods, &c., the thorns themselves, in some instances, 

 even remaining fixed in the texture. Moral : " 'Ware 

 Thorns.^-' 



Casts were next soaked and tested equal to landing 

 anything under the weight of a full-sized sturgeon ; 

 it is surprising what little weight is in reality put upon 

 a line by an object floating in the water, as can be 

 proved by attaching a steelyard to a log and then 

 attaching the cast to the former while getting a second 

 person to read the indicator. 



The Castleconnells were taken from the cases and 

 the two bottom joints spliced up, so as to save time in 

 the morning; then, "Yes, thanks, just a wee drop 

 more ! " and so off to the blankets by 10.30. 



"Six o'clock, gentlemen!" "Right!'* and out we 

 turned, firmly of opinion that getting out of a warm 

 bed at an early hour was not all joy on a cold 

 November morning; but once on one's feet that is a 

 thing of the past, and by the time we had shaken into 

 our kits (no shaving-time allowed) the day was fairly 

 breaking ; then, having stowed away as much ham and 

 eggs as we conveniently could at one sitting, we set off on 

 our walk of a mile to the river. There is nothing like 

 a brisk walk before a day's fishing, especially when it 

 entails wading, as the circulation is raised for the day ; 



