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CHAPTER XX. 



cmiB-FisniNa on the thames. {flt.) 



The angler who at the present day seeks this class of 

 sport is, on account of the increased traffic, driven to 

 the highest reaches of the Thames. The advent of 

 the noisy steam-launch has well nigh precluded all 

 possibility of such sport on the lower and mid river, 

 excepting, perhaps, in a few quiet backwaters and 

 weir-tails, as, even during the middle days of the week, 

 there is an unceasing procession of these nuisances 

 churning up the stream and washing down the banks as 

 they pursue their own sweet way. 



In times gone by, many a long summer day have 

 we spent gliding silently down stream in a skiff held up 

 by noiseless sculls, while the red or black palmer was 

 made to drop at the very edge of the willows over- 

 hanging the banks or would now and again penetrate 

 the shady crevices they created. 



Even in those days the week ends were busy times 

 for the various Inns, but the fashion of going down on 

 Sunday for dinner was a thing of the future, and at 

 any rate the angler could count upon enjoying peace 



