THE ANGLERS SOUVENIR. 



163 



We had no lack of bites. Barely five minutes 

 passed without one or other of us having a bite. 

 The pool, in all probability, had not been fished 

 for some years, and the carp were not shy. But 

 we missed a great many. Our floats were neces- 

 sarily very close together, as we were fishing in a 

 small bay ; and when the float began to slide away 

 with the peculiar motion of the carp-bite, if we 

 struck too soon we missed the fish to a certainty, 

 and if we gave it the proper time it entangled us 

 with our neighbours' lines, and spoilt the chance 

 for a time. Herbert had the most bites, as his 

 bait was the farthest out, and he caught the most 

 fish. Then, whenever a fish was struck by one of 

 us, the others had to "up stick " and away, to give 

 room for the carp to dash about in, and to aid in 

 their landing. It was excessively inconvenient, but 

 excellent fun, and a very novel position. For a 

 time we had very good sport, catching fish of two 

 to frmr pounds in weight, but none so big as the 

 first one. Then they ceased biting ; and no wonder, 

 for the bay had been thoroughly disturbed, and the 

 writer began to speculate if he could not find fresh 

 fields and pastures new. At the windward side of 

 the pool it was far too shallow to fish it from the 

 bank, but a line of rickety posts and rails ran out 

 into the pool, enclosing a space where the cattle 

 were allowed to drink and bathe. As this part of 

 the pool was sheltered from the wind ~by the trees 

 and hillside, it was calm and smooth, and rippled 



