168 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



bombastic bullies who swagger in cabarets extremely 

 liberal, and invariably civil and polite. 



In fishing about the ramparts and fortifications of towns 

 in France and Belgium, the angler will sometimes meet 

 with obstruction from the soldiers on duty, or from the 

 public functionaries who take charge of these waters. 

 In all such cases, the most implicit obedience should be 

 yielded. Whenever you are told not to fish in a certain 

 place, up with your rod on the instant, and quit the spot; 

 otherwise a file of men with fixed bayonets may march 

 you through the town, to some of the public offices of 

 justice, and get you fined into the bargain. We have 

 known some instances in which our countrymen have got 

 into awkward positions, by not attending to what is here 

 recommended. 



These casual obstructions about the waters of fortified 

 places arise, however, from very simple causes. These 

 waters are let to particular persons, on account of the fish 

 they contain, which are caught by nets or in traps, and 

 sold in the public markets. The soldiers on duty are 

 frequently directed not to allow persons to angle in par- 

 ticular portions of these waters; and if you succeed in 

 obtaining liberty from the lessee (which you may often 

 do for a mere trifle), still the soldier on duty can know 

 nothing about you or your arrangement; therefore you 

 will still be ordered off, even if you have the written 

 permission in your pocket. This, of course, you can soon 

 rectify ; but it is wise to submit in the first instance. 



Again, the owners or lessees of the waters are not 

 always the lessees of the herbage which grows upon the 

 glacis or ramparts ; which is hired every year by people 

 who keep cows and other cattle, and is commonly cut 

 down two or three times a year, and taken off the ground. 



