188 ST HOOK AND SY CBOOZ. 



portioned off to each, and, indeed, such a rule Tvas 

 indispensable. 



Well, all the tickets had been issued and the holders 

 thereof told off to their stations, so we fell in to work 

 our little beat of about 10 yards, imitating the polar- 

 bear-like movements of our brothers in affliction, cast- 

 ing away until about 4 p.m., when we turned it up, 

 having only increased our early morning's sport by one 

 fish of 5 lb. 



The rest of the anglers only got one fish among 

 them all day ; but this was scarcely to be wondered at, 

 as the sun was streaming down the whole time, but 

 this lack of sport was balanced by the excitement most 

 of them experienced when now and again getting hitched 

 up in the high grassy bank which mounted straight up 

 at their backs. 



The hooking of a fish was regarded as a species of 

 offence, as the playing of him obliged two or three of 

 one's immediate neighbours to withdraw for a time, 

 and if the captor did not adopt the puUing-out-by-the- 

 roots style of play he was regarded as a public nuisance. 



Whether or no it was the custom of the place we 

 did not enquire, but it so happened that on the occa- 

 sion of our visit about half of the competitors affected 

 white kid gloves, which lent a peculiar charm to the 

 scene. 



It was curious to observe the apathetic manner in 

 which the fish allowed the fly to sweep over their 



