FRESH-WATER FISHES 205 



'Look at the live baits. Is there anything the 

 matter ? ' He looked at them, then said : 



'They there gudgeons is the biggest an' most 

 prankt'uns as I've sin fur many a day. They never 

 cummed out o' any water round about here, I knows. 

 They be too big fur these 'ere parts. Nuthin' wunt 

 ketch them 'ere jacks but a caaf-tailed fly.' 



' A calf-tailed fly ? ' 



' Yes, I mean what I sez. Did ye never see one 

 o' that 'ere sort ? ' 



I assured him I had never come across that rare 

 insect. 



' A fly of that 'ere sort cud soon be got, werry 

 soon ; and ye can ketch as many jack with it as ever 

 ye likes.' 



' And where did you make acquaintance with that 

 remarkable fly, my friend ? ' 



' In the Crimear, when I was a sojerin'. There's 

 lots o' fish out in them parts. I bin wounded ; I ain't 

 fit fur much now, an' I ain't got no pension. So I 

 bides about like, best way I ken ; does odd jobs like 

 if they ain't too heavy.' 



' What would be the price of one of those rare 

 insects ? ' 



' Half-a-crownd, an' ye ken have it in a couple o 1 

 days' time. 



