THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



53 



this, considering that the water is so clear, and has 

 still so many weeds in it, is tolerably good sport 

 for a five hours' bout at the commencement of the 

 season. They were all rather small, under four 

 pounds, except one of those caught by Fisher, 

 which I think will not weigh much less than nine 

 pounds. I have not seen a better taken in the Lea 

 this season. I had a run with one, which, from the 

 glance I had of him as he turned, I should take to 

 be larger ; but though he had plenty of time to 

 pouch, I failed to hook liiin. 



FISHER. I had twenty minutes' good play with 

 the largest pike, for my tackle was rather of the 

 finest, and he was so strong and pulled hard. I 

 nearly lost him once, just as I had brought him 

 near the shore, and was preparing to get his head 

 into the landing-net. Alarmed at the sight of the 

 net, his fear gave him new strength, and he went 

 off with a plunge which I thought had broken all 

 away ; but my tackle held good. It was his last 

 effort, for after he had run off about thirty yards of 

 line, I felt him getting weak, when I turned him 

 and drew him to land fairly exhausted. He was 

 dead-beat, and when I got him into the net, he 

 scarcely moved a fin. 



SIMPSON. Though the cockney angler may not 

 take so many nor so fine fish as are caught in the 

 north, yet he enjoys a greater variety of sport. I 

 suppose there is not much trolling in the neighbour- 

 nood of Sanquhar, Mr. Tweddell ? 





