284 



THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 





resting on the top of the pole within a foot of 

 the water, into which he gradually subsided, in 

 spite of our efforts to pull him back by the slack 

 of his trousers. 



We have seen the cleeching-net used in a very 

 effective manner by bargees on canals. As their 

 vessel is towed along they put the net into the 

 water alongside the bows, and walk back to the 

 stern as the boat moves, so as to keep the net 

 in the same position. The rush of the water, 

 displaced by the passage of the barge, drives a 

 good many fish into the net ; and we have even 

 known fair-sized pike to be captured in this way. 



Once we were cruising down the Severn, and 

 had moored our canoe under some bushes in a 

 very secluded part of the river, to take our mid- 

 day rest. Presently we saw two men in coracles 

 coming down the river. They stopped just oppo- 

 site us, and commenced to net the river with a 

 small-meshed net. They payed the net out in a 

 semicircle, and then, beating the water with their 

 paddles, they closed, and completed the circle, and 

 with their coracles side by side hauled their net 

 in. It was a caution to see the fish they had 

 caught. Great chub of five, and one of nine 

 pounds in weight. Roach, pike, and dace in 

 half an hour they had caught a great number. 

 They looked frightened enough when we shot out 

 from our hiding-place and examined their sport 

 and their net. 



