80 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



brought with the utmost coolness as if he had 

 expected it. Ladies were ever welcomed by him ; 

 they in no way interfered with his chances, as, at 

 their approach, he laid his rod down so as to hang 

 out towards his float which was probably going 

 round and round in an eddy, while his winch hung 

 prepared to call him when the big fish which he 

 expected took his hook. 



Ted must be given credit that while his anxiety 

 to please the ladies was manifested in so many ways, 

 particularly by his studiously careful get-up, he was 

 equally lavish in his expenditure of time and money 

 for piscatorial success. It was a delight to him to 

 think he had the best of fishing tackle, and I have 

 seen him beam with delight when a professional 

 fisherman, little likely to be surprised by any 

 ordinary display, has said: "Never seen such a 

 splendid lot of useful tackle. Cost a heap of money 

 I'm thinking. Does one's eyes good to look at it. 

 You should see the rotten stuff some of 'em brings 

 into this punt and you wouldn't be disbelieving the 

 big fish they loses." 



My method of bank fishing for roach is not 

 definable by a name, as Jack's and Ted's are, as it 

 does not conform to either the Thames, Lea, or 

 Trent style, and yet it has, so I think, some of the 

 advantages of each. I use a sixteen-foot, light, 

 cane rod, and a line that is only a trifle shorter ; 

 thus, while obviating the necessity of disjointing to 

 land my fish, I am enabled to cast well beyond my 

 threatening pole. I can also, without moving, fish 

 well down towards the shallowing end of the swim 

 where the roach are apt to gather if at all alarmed 

 by such disturbance as the capture of one of their 



