5 2 



THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



to change my gorge hook for a snap, I was nearly 

 another hour before I could fix my bait as the book 

 directed, and then the best part of the day was 

 gone. I do not wonder at my not catching a 

 second one, for I must confess that, after I had 

 succeeded in fixing my hooks and sewing up the 

 gudgeon's mouth, it presented anything but a 

 tempting appearance. I had handled the bait 

 rather too roughly, and when all was ready for 

 a cast, it was not unlike a bruised sprat, bristling 

 with hooks, and more likely to deter than to allure. 

 No pike, however hungry, I felt assured, could 

 behold it without aversion, if not terror, so I took 

 it off again. An old gentleman who came up, and 

 perceived that I was a novice at jack-fishing, invited 

 me to take a seat in his boat, which was then lying 

 just below the Tumbling Bay ; and with one of his 

 rods I caught two dozen of roach, whilst we smoked 

 our cigars, and talked of the comparative excellence 

 of Silvas and Woodvilles, of fishing and shooting in 

 the Highlands, and things in general. Next to fly- 

 fishing, I should prefer trolling for jack, but I have 

 never practised the latter branch of angling, and I 

 could scarcely expect much sport in my first attempt. 

 I did not choose to follow in the wake of either of 

 you, and receive your instructions at the moderate 

 charge of being laughed at. But what success have 

 you two had ? 



SIMPSON. I caught three brace and a half of 

 jack, and Fisher three brace, all by troUing ; and 



