besides the gentlemen anglers, looking on. I got close 

 up to the mouth of the arch, and, saying " Gentlemen, 

 here goes !" sent my devil killer nearly through the arch. 

 I had not moved my bait a second before I had a splendid 

 tug. I got the fish from under the arch and led him down 

 stream, where I landed him. He was in splendid con- 

 dition, weighing over two pounds. The May fly or green 

 drake was just coming up, and the same afternoon, with 

 my floating drakes, I killed eight-and-a-half brace, several 

 of them nearly three pounds in weight, using my little 

 eight-foot rod, handled with leather, a full account of 

 which was published in the " Field " newspaper of 

 June 1 7th, 1871. 



On another occasion I went up to Fairford, with .a 

 friend, to fish the river Colne, but finding so many anglers 

 there, I told the landlord I should not go down his water 

 that day, as it might interfere with the gentlemen fishing ; 

 and I asked him if he thought Squire Barker, who resided 

 at Fairford, would give us a day on his half water. He 

 replied that it would be useless to ask him, as he never 

 gave permission to anyone. But we thought, however, 

 we would try him, and fortunately met him in the park. 

 I at once told him our errand, and begged his acceptance 

 of some artificial drakes out of my box. He said he did 

 not fish himself, but would give them to his brother, who 

 was an angler. He gave me and my friend permission 

 to fish a day or two on his half water, and we went up 

 to Quenington to commence. The fly was coming up 

 strong, and I soon had some fine trout in my basket 

 My friend went higher up the meadow, but soon returned 



