6 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



Here is a fern lover who has actually been known to* 

 miss the striking of a fish on suddenly espying a goodly 

 specimen of his favourite plant. To another the pocket 

 sketch-book is the most necessary item of his fishing 

 kit; his friend is full of learning as to forest trees and 

 wild flowers; ornithology is a common acquirement with 

 the majority. I could point you to one who captures 

 more butterflies than fish; to a second .whose weakness 

 lies in tadpoles, newts, and snakes. Out of the fullness 

 of the heart the mouths speak, producing a medley of 

 conversation truly, and an exchange of miscellaneous ex- 

 periences, but no ill-humour, no treason, no railing. 



It is the last night in March, and we muster in force 

 amongst our old acquaintances, the trophies encased 

 around the walls. How we fight our piscatorial battles 

 over again ! That monster pike glares as if he were 

 cognisant of the story re-told of his folly and fall how, 

 greedily grabbing at the gudgeon that was intended for a 

 passing perch, he, twenty-eight pounder though he was, 

 was struck, played, exhausted, and landed with a single 

 hook, which you may observe coiled up in the corner 

 of the museum, to his everlasting disgrace. 



The eyes of our old friend whose prowess amongst 

 the salmon and white trout is a proverb at Glendalough 

 and Ballina, and has been known there these twenty 

 years, will glisten again as he describes the history of 

 the three large trout overhead, caught in three casts 

 within a space of thirty minutes. And soon a patriarch 

 takes up the parable; he is as enthusiastic at three 

 score and ten as he was when, a truant, he slew small 

 perch near Sadler's Wells Theatre, and he will set 



