8o ON SURREY HILLS. 



of weeds ashore that would have overfilled a 

 bushel measure. When we parted the weeds, in 

 the centre of them was one of the most silvery, 

 thick 8-lb. pikes that we had ever seen or ever 

 shall see. 



After that we found more pike in that secluded 

 bit of water, all of the same stamp and quality. 

 Numbers of them were hauled out by that happy 

 contrivance of picture- cord and snare -wire. We 

 two meet one another at times now, and no matter 

 what the topic of conversation may be, it is sure 

 soon to drift round to that lonely pool ; and it is 

 our united opinion that if we had allowed those 

 fat pike to remain there, they must infallibly have 

 died eventually of apoplexy. 



From the stream that ran by this pond little rills 

 flowed through the lush water-meadows, which were 

 covered in their season with the king-cups, the yellow 

 iris, and many other plants that flourish in such 

 localities. 



The rills were clear as crystal, having sandy 

 bottoms, about a foot in depth. Here loach of 

 large size were to be found in abundance ; six 

 inches in length they were, the finest baits pos- 



