Water Poachers. 189 



difficulty lies in conveying them into the towns 

 and villages. The poacher never knows but 

 that he may meet some county constable along 

 the unfrequented country roads, and conse- 

 quently never carries his game upon him. This 

 he secretes in stacks and ricks and disused farm 

 buildings until such times as it may be safely 

 sent for. Country carriers, early morning milk 

 carts, and women are all employed in getting 

 fish into town. In this the women are 

 most successful. Sometimes they may be 

 seen labouring under a heavy load carried 

 in a sack, with faggots and rotten sticks 

 protruding from the mouth ; or again with a 

 large basket innocently covered with crisp 

 green cresses which effectually hide the bright 

 silvery fish beneath. 



The methods of the fish poacher are many. 

 The chances of success, too, are greatly in his 

 favour, for he works silently and always in the 

 night. He walks abroad during the day 

 and makes mental notes of men and fish. He 

 knows the beats of the watchers, and has the 

 waterside, as it were, by heart. He can work 

 as well in .the dark as in the light, and this is 

 essential to his silent trade. During summer 

 and when the water becomes low the fish con- 

 gregate in deep " dubs." This they do for pro- 

 tection, and if overhung with trees there is always 

 here abundance of food. If a poacher intends to 



