FRESH-WATER FISHES 223 



running stream completely covered with them. They 

 swim there leisurely along, bite well, and, for their 

 size, are strong. Pike love to feed on them, so do 

 chub and eels and the crimson-spotted trout ; what 

 with predaceous fish, boys, and men, he has a lively 

 time of it, being in demand in summer and winter in 

 some way or other for food or for bait. In the winter 

 months he retires into holes ; then the cast-net 

 captures him. 



One bright frosty day in January gudgeon were 

 in demand for pike-fishing, and a couple of lads I 

 knew well started to procure some in a sort of ' no 

 man's-land ' locality. One had the net, the other the 

 can. They had never been interfered with before at 

 that particular spot, but on the morning I speak of 

 a great lout in velveteen coat and leather gaiters 

 slouched up and told them he'd got them. 



' Got who ? ' demanded the lads. 



' Why, the pair on ye ; an' I'm goin' to have that 

 nice net of yours,' said the bully. 



' We are on waste ground, an' you touch us or the 

 net, if you dare ! ' cried the lads. ' You are not a 

 keeper, and if you were you've no right to interfere 

 with us on this bit of ground.' 



' All very fine ! I shall jest leather the pair on ye 

 for your owdacious cheek, and have that there net too.' 



