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wild-goose chase, and be highly entertained at the result 

 of their insolence. 



Yet sometimes a few shillings, dispensed judiciously, 

 will gain your point among even this kind of impostors, 

 as I have experienced j for it has happened, that a linger- 

 ing miller, &c. has bit at my bait, and privately given 

 me hints as to the best holes, so as to enable my getting 

 a good basket-full of whatever the waters contained. 



Wherever there are navigable canals, &c. unless .the 

 waters be too extensive for ordinary depredations in the 

 poaching way to have much effect, every place is searched 

 by the bargemen ; who, in poling along, become com- 

 pletely acquainted with every hole, and cast their nets 

 accordingly. 



It is wonderful what a quantity of fishes these people 

 carry off, from such parts of the canals as pass through 

 the estates of gentlemen, who are sometimes very cap- 

 tious in protecting their waters, often not allowing their 

 neighbours and friends to cast, a line ; while, by night, 

 their best fishes are netted by hundreds, to the great 

 amusement, not only of the robbers, but of all who 

 know the circumstances : a liberal indulgence to our 

 neighbours often prevents our suifering by such depre- 

 dations. 



One circumstance should ever be carried in memory, 

 viz. whenever you can ascertain that a stream, however 

 small, is connected with a spacious "well-stocked pond 

 in a gentleman's park, &c. you may be certain that, in 

 the holes, no doubt to be found in some parts of such a 

 stream, there will often be good fishes, which have been 

 carried by floods out of the pond. Besides, the young fry, 

 and, at all events, the spawn, cannot be confined, if 



there 



