2 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



strongly recommended his trying the Harbourne, 

 a brook tributary, where he went straightway, to 

 return well satisfied with several brace of well- 

 sized trout. 



I recollect, when a boy, going to fish a stream 

 one could jump over, one sultry July morning. 

 When I reached the bridge a gentleman in a dog- 

 cart stopped me. 



Quoth he, " Surely you don't expect to get any 

 trout hi that place, and in such weather ? " 



I expressed a contrary opinion. 



" Well," he continued, " I shall be passing here 

 again about five o'clock, and I'll bet you half a 

 sovereign you don't get half a dozen sprats." 



I could only muster a shilling, but this was 

 accepted against his ten. 



By cautious procedure I espied an eight -ounce 

 fish in the very first little pool, and got him. 

 Trout came on well that day, enough for me to 

 add that my challenger lost (and paid) his wager, 

 as I showed him twenty-four decent fish, very few 

 under J lb., and many of them nearly up to or 

 quite the J lb. He vowed he could not under- 

 stand it, thus plainly showing that he was not a 

 brook-angler. 



Again, when quartered in King's County, 

 Ireland, I noticed a tiny beck, a tributary of the 



