HURTING OR INJURING? 57 



destructive bait, but it must have been ex- 

 tremely scarce, for never shall I forget the 

 shout of joy which arose from a small posse 

 of earnest anglers, when one of them, a young 

 gentleman with naked legs, safely landed a 

 little roach, which he kindly handed over to 

 a brother angler, who was anxious to try live- 

 bait fishing, but had before sought in vain for 

 a bait. A special pool was made for this 

 precious little fish to keep alive and kicking 

 in, whilst the proper tackle was being pre- 

 pared for him. 



At length I had the gratification of seeing 

 him wriggling on the hook, and swinging 

 through the air into the water again, but I 

 saw nothing particularly destructive in these 

 gyrations, except the gradual destruction of 

 the little creature's life. I used the word 

 " gratification " just now because I was as- 

 sured, on the great and indubitable authority 

 of Izaak Walton, whom all piscators worship, 

 that the roach not only feels no pain, but 

 positively delights in this unwonted exercise. 

 He tells us that " a pearch is the longest lived 

 on the hook," and that " having cut off his 

 fin on his back, which may be done without 

 hurting him? you must take your knife, 



l This curious notion that the mutilation of a living 

 creature does not give it pain has probably arisen from the 



