EARLY MEMORIES 49 



years of contrition, and in future I shall sacrifice 

 fish to atmosphere. But I anticipate. Maynard, 

 a bearded mariner of Guernsey origin, has since 

 those days found in regular service in Borough 

 employ relief from the more precarious livelihood 

 of owning boats for hire. Bournemouth indeed 

 bears some resemblance to the East in the multi- 

 tudes of its public servants. It takes about five 

 men and a boy to measure the front of a shop or 

 the distance between two lamp-posts, so that the 

 Borough survey runs no risk of lacking efficient 

 checking. 



What the quality of the sport round that 

 sewer may be nowadays I have no personal 

 knowledge, though, judging from the num- 

 ber of boats and birds that assemble there in 

 fine weather, it still seems as safe a draw 



as one of Mr. o's plays. I do not press 



the comparison. Alas, that we fishermen lack 

 the broadmindedness of theatrical managers 

 and grow too nice to appreciate the irresistible 

 groundbaiting afforded by a sewer ! Perchance 

 we were better sportsmen in those fragrant days 

 when we steeled our senses, anchored as near the 

 fish as possible, and played the dashing mackerel 

 and resisting plaice on the lightest of tackle. One 

 day that August I fished with a Frenchman for 

 several hours, and our boat came back to the 

 pier probably rather more than 80 Ibs. heavier than 



5 2272) 



