A MORTIFYING LOSS. 63 



the fish alive in the water, parted as we were in the act of 

 lifting the fish into the boat, and we lost nearly all of them. 

 The same circumstance happened here while angling with 

 George Austin, Esq. Such luck is aggravating to a common 

 man, but an angler soon learns that effects follow causes. If 

 you prefer to keep your mess alive, either tow a fish-car at 

 the stern of your row-boat for placing them in, or deposit 

 them in a net fastened to a thole-pin, or purchase the new in- 

 vention of a string made of raw-hide by Andrew Clerk & Co. 



It is time for us to reel up and count our mess, for we have 

 tide enough left to float us to New Brighton, where we hired 

 the boat in the morning. Your count says twenty-seven 

 fish. Well, that is an average take. We will unjoint our 

 rods, place them in their cases, take up anchor, and you may 

 light a regalia, while we enjoy the enlivening scenes along 

 Kill Van Kull on our row to the landing. This is the be- 

 witching time for driving along the cornice road of Staten 

 Island ; and that couple which you now see in a buggy oppo- 

 site us think that driving a fast horse on a dusty road is fa- 

 mous sport. See the cavalcade of roadsters stirring up the 

 dust ! Coaches with liveried drivers and footmen are not 

 rare, and the outriders will come next. But we are at New 

 Brighton, our fish are basketed, and our boat returned. We 

 will now step on board the steam ferry-boat for New York, 

 which stops here every fifteen minutes. 



Our sail across the Bay of New York to the Battery, you 

 perceive, is a continuation of the enlivening local and aquatic 

 views which have blessed our eyes throughout the day. 



We must part now with a shake of the hand. Your steam- 

 ship is to leave at noon to-morrow, and the engagements of 

 which I spoke to you may prevent me from bidding you bon 

 voyage on the deck of the vessel which is to convey you to 

 home and happiness in one of the British Isles. May the 

 blessings which usually accompany true sportsmen be with 

 you ; and when thinking of this land of long rivers and broad 

 lands,! trust that you will not forget the slight taste of sport 



