PERCH. 43- 



Nepenthe repeated ; line rearranged and hooks rebaited ; waiting were we, 

 as erstwhile. 



A quarter of an hour now slowly passed away, and the fragrant nerve- 

 composer, in the shape of the Virginian weed, began to tell its gentle 

 tale upon onr slightly excited feelings. " Ah ! " sighed one, " I'm afraid 

 we're not in luck to-daypass the lights, old man; thanks ! What 

 a splendid kingfisher, did you see it? By Jove ! I've got him ! " (This 

 last in a tone of exultation.) And so he had, as fine a perch (a two- 

 pounder) as ever gladdened the heart of an angler. " Whew!" I also 

 jerked out, as I jerked the hook -into the nose of another something which 

 seemed mightily heavy. ' ' My goodness ! ' ' shrieked our other friend, as 

 he struck smartly into what seemed a log of wood. Three fish at a time 

 on three lines from one boat are not a joke, however much fun can be 

 got out of the affair when the said fish are fairly obedient to the dictates 

 of the rod and sturdy line ; but in the case I am endeavouring to describe 

 the fun did not seem very apparent, for each straggler sought to trespass 

 on each other's water, hence confusion of rods, lines, fish, and impre- 

 cations and right vigorous imprecations were some of them. However,, 

 we managed to get somewhat straight at last, and, providentially, did 

 not lose either of our three captures. Three, did I say ? Nay, four, for 

 during the combat another " pearch," envious of the glorious rollicking- 

 gambols of his impaled brothers, met a similar pleasant fate on one of 

 my spare hooks, and so dear, but possibly incredulous reader, we did 

 land four fish perch within five minutes of each other on three lines- 

 They were a splendid sight not one could have been less than l^lb. 

 The day's results tabulated were fifteen fish, weighing 211b. ; and if any 

 reader desires it I shall have pleasure in giving him the names of the 

 gentlemen who participated in the magnificent sport that day afforded. 



Above and beyond the curious incident of taking four fish with three 

 lines at one time, there was another which caused considerable merri- 

 ment. I struck a fish and was playing him. when he took it in his head 

 to run across my neighbour's line. My friend immediately, thinking it 

 a bite, struck, and, lo ! we both played one fish, for on landing it the two 

 hooks were found in the fish, one on each side of the jaw, not inside at all. 

 My fish must have ejected the bait just before I struck, but I had him, 

 nevertheless; whether he essayed to take my friend's bait or not, and 

 met with the same treatment, I cannot pretend to say. The fish " went 

 off the feed " at about four o'clock p.m., through my missing my fourth, 

 fish, otherwise we might possibly have bagged more. 



How fragrant is the memory of such a red letter day ! No scoffer 

 can rob me of the pleasaunce of its recalling. 



Yet another episode in my piscine experiences. This time the destina- 



