1 1 8 Rambles with a Fishing-Rod. 



and southern slopes of the Alps, would serve as 

 similar examples. Trout in the Munich market 

 fetch, towards the end of the season, from two 

 marks seventy-four pfennigs per pound (about 

 2s. 7d.) to three marks ; and even the pike, 

 much despised in England, will fetch from 

 Is. 2d. to Is. 3d. a pound : so that, since all 

 these fish are supplied through the agency of 

 the professional fresh-water fisherman, it will 

 be obvious that he holds no unimportant place 

 as a supplier of food, especially when the diffi- 

 culty, if not impossibility, of obtaining sea-fish 

 in the inland towns of Europe is considered. 



Generally the professional fisherman rents 

 his lake or piece of river by the year, and has 

 to take it afresh every year. Sometimes it is 

 put up to auction, and then the price for the 

 year may be double that which was given the 

 preceding year. Occasionally the fisherman 

 will rent his water for two or three years, 

 paying a lump sum down for a three years' 

 tenancy. The rents, as may be imagined, vary 

 considerably. As a rule, they would be con- 

 sidered small according to English notions ; 

 but the professional fisherman, unless which 

 is very rarely the case he happens to be the 



