56 WATERSIDE SKETCHES. 



ledger line and I began, knowing somewhat of the pro- 

 cess, to winch him in, and our friend peremptorily took the 

 rod my rod ! out of my hands, and by his clumsiness 

 allowed the jack to escape, matters were brought to a crisis. 



Some language ensued. The air, I rejoice to say, quickly 

 cleared, and our friend was none the worse for the setting 

 down he received, and for the remainder of the day a more 

 docile, intelligent fisherman never wielded pole. He had 

 after all acted according to habit ; upon discovering that we 

 understood our part of the business he devoted himself to 

 his own. I believe we did nothing to boast of, but the two 

 rods, in a day of six hours, produced 16 Ib. of honest roach. 

 The fisherman was not at all a bad fellow when we came to 

 know each other, but he had been spoiled by foolish 

 customers, and required to be kept in his place. 



Fly-fishing in the Thames, though the pursuit of a few, is 

 a fascinating and not unremunerative method of dealing with 

 the river. Though the fly is doing great execution amongst 

 the trout compared with previous years, fly-fishing in the 

 Thames for trout alone is scarcely worth the time and 

 trouble it involves. Dace and chub rise freely, and in the 

 very hot evenings of July and August roach may be in- 

 cluded. The fly-fisher is independent of the punt and the 

 fisherman. A hired boat with a friend to manage it answers 

 every purpose. Or an evening's moderate sport may be 

 enjoyed from the bank if you understand where to go. 



A boatman's boy below Ham Lane at Richmond with a 

 peeled willow wand, a length of twine, and a small black gnat 

 begged from some passing possessor of a fly-book, will, 

 when the humour takes them, whip out dace with every cast. 

 The Thames dace never runs large four to a pound being 



