OLD JOYS IN NEW PLACES 283 



it happened to be a profitless wait, for the big fish 

 was evidently a thought-reader : anyhow, not 

 taking any risk, he departed. For consolation 

 there was the recollection of the thrilling moment 

 nine years previously on the Severn, and the 

 reflection that I had profited by it, at any rate so 

 far as effective policy was concerned. 



When a bigger fish attacks a smaller fish 

 which is hooked, the angler may have an exciting 

 experience, that is, if the bigger fish becomes 

 involved in the fray. On the Severn one fisher- 

 man of my acquaintance was playing a grayling 

 on very fine gut, when a jack, estimated at about 

 three pounds, went for it, and got a hold. Both 

 were played for several minutes, but the jack 

 escaped. Mr. R. B. Marston had better luck once 

 when May-fly fishing on the Piddle, near Ware- 

 ham. He had risen a trout and was playing it, 

 when a pike dashed out at it. Mr. Marston was 

 master of the situation. Skilfully and patiently 

 he played both pike and trout though the trout 

 was a comparative infant, and helpless at that, 

 and eventually he landed both. The pike weighed 

 twelve pounds, the trout one and a half pounds. 

 The gut used was 2X. A double trophy in a 

 glass case the May-fly still in the trout's mouth, 

 the trout still in the pike's mouth, just as when 

 they were landed now bears testimony to a very 

 remarkable feat, which only a very clever angler 

 could have accomplished. The sight of these 

 specimens I have been privileged to enjoy it 

 makes one realize what possibilities fishing holds. 



