54 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



towards that cruet-stand, or silver teapot, or twenty-two feet 

 roach rod offered for the heaviest weight of jack taken 

 during the season, or during a day ; thus, however unclean 

 their condition, the unseasonable fish are brought to the 

 club scales. If the authorities with whom the fence regula- 

 tions rest wish to damage the Thames as a pike river, in the 

 hope of improving the trout preserves, that is quite another 

 affair ; then, let us cut, and kill, and net by wholesale. But 

 it is well known that such is not the case ; yet, for no reason 

 that can be suggested, much less stated, pike-murder, allowed 

 nowhere else in England, is encouraged in the Thames, 

 which in other respects is being, as I have said, most 

 carefully, and successfully, protected. 



The professional Thames fisherman, though not half so 

 bad as he is painted, is all the better for being looked after. 

 Fishing from the punt necessarily involves an almost child- 

 like trust in the fisherman. If you succeed, you reward 

 him ; if you fail, you execrate him and all that is his. Your 

 prosperity you place to the credit of your own skill ; your 

 adversity you lay to his charge. In both you may be right, 

 but it is not hard to see that between the two the fisherman 

 runs a capital chance of being spoiled. Much of the objec- 

 tion which many entertain to Thames angling arises from 

 dislike of the fisherman. Still the fisherman's position is a 

 safe one, for to fish the Thames profitably you must perforce 

 use a punt or boat. The fishermen are capable of some 

 improvement, although in fairness to them let me say that, 

 considering how they are pampered by one set of anglers 

 and bullied by another, the wonder is they are not worse 

 than they are. 



You will forgive a man much if he is equal to his business, 



