106 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



The Roding is a very uneven river, and in sum- 

 mer very often dry in many places, but there are 

 others that are broad and deep, and of some extent, 

 and in many places strictly preserved, so that in the 

 time of a flood the fish are driven out into the open 

 spots, so it is that this river is always well supplied 

 with fish. 



CHUB FISHING EXTRAORDINARY. 



Once an Angler repaired with his fishing tackle to the Roding, 

 accompanied by a New Policeman, off duty ; this Angler was 

 not very famous for his attention to his companions when the 

 river was in sight, so, giving his friend the Policeman some 

 oeneral instructions, he left him. to himself; the Officer had never 

 been out before on similar duty, and fished without success for 

 several hours, but meeting his companion, he found him more 

 successful, he had taken some good fish with a fly ; I'll try a fly 

 too, said the Policeman, what fly shall I use? a Blue-bottle, 

 nothing better, replied the Angler; this was done, after a good 

 deal of trouble in catching one ; he placed it on his hook, and 

 acted as he observed his friend do, after several trials, he hooked 

 a large Chub, which floundered about in an alarming manner ; 

 he shouted to his friend for help and assistance, but before it 

 could arrive, the Policeman had taken his truncheon from his 

 pocket, and, still roaring out for help, was striking away with all 

 his might ; he had knocked off the fish from his hook with his 

 staff, t and beat the head to pieces, thinking, perhaps, in the 

 anxiety of the moment, that he was belabouring a Calthorpe 

 Street traitor. 



