203 



occasions they will wriggle between the net and tht 

 bank} or they will sometimes use their teeth, with 

 such effect, when strenuously opposed, as to make your 

 assistants decline the contest. 



I recollect a curious instance of a very fine pond being 

 dragged for three days successively ; until the owner 

 assured me he had not left either a perch, or a tench, or 

 a carp, or a jack, of half a pound weight; for he took 

 away all that were worth removing in a cart every day, 

 throwing back the small ones. Knowing, however, the 

 nature of the jack, and having seen that, while the people 

 were dragging, it was possible for them to have escaped, 

 I ventured a small wager that I would in the course of 

 three days, catch a jack, at least as large as any he had 

 removed ; none of which were equal to five pounds. 



During the first day I did not get a bite, the fishes 

 being all alarmed at what had passed \ but on the second 

 evening, I caught two very fine jacks, one upwards of 

 seven, the odier not quite nine pounds . f 



It must be observed, that I had derived considerable 

 advantage from the cleaning of the pond, which, before 

 the net could be got in, was weeded by four men, who 

 brought a boat for the purpose -, they were nevertheless 

 upwards of two days clearing less than an acre of water> 

 My advantage arose from being able to dip where, and 

 how I thought proper : so that if a jack remained, it 

 was next to impossible but he must see my bait ; which. - 

 was all I wanted. 



I have before said, that the live- f: ait b by no means 



eligible, where a dead one can be used. Before I was 



" up to the trick," I used to sit very patiently, following 



the advice, of some who thought themselves excellent 



* 6 anglers, 



