66 THE TROUPER'S GUIDE. 



and Pike spawn in March, yet they remain a long time 

 after very languid, weak, and sickly, and their bodies are 

 long and thin, and their heads large, caring little for food 

 until the cool mornings, evenings, and nights of the 

 autumn approach, they then rapidly recover their appe- 

 tite and strength, and soon become fat and well flavoured, 

 and are in the best state for the table from Michaelmas 

 till the latter end of February (it is with real regret that 

 the true sporting or gentleman angler puts his trolling 

 tackle together before September ; but the misfortune is, 

 that all the waters within a considerable distance of Lon- 

 don are continually fished by poachers, and in consequence 

 of such practices, the different subscription waters allow 

 trolling to commence in June or July ; the angler, from 

 necessity, avails himself of this liberty to troll, because 

 he argues that he may as well kill a few Jack himself, as 

 to pay an annual sum to a water, and leave them to the 

 unfair angler who will kill all he can, and laugh in his 

 sleeve at his forbearance) in September the weeds, rushes, 

 &c. have lost their sweetness and nutritious properties, and 

 begin to grow thin, affording but little harbour, shelter, or 

 food for fish ; and as the winter approaches, those sedges, 

 weeds, rushes, &c. rot, waste, and sink, or drift away with 

 the floods ; during which time, small fish, gudgeons 

 especially, have left the shallows, and retired to deep 

 holes under banks, shelves, piles, &c. which occasions Jack 

 and Pike to be on the alert, finding much difficulty to 

 satisfy their now ever craving appetite. Therefore, at 



