SMALL WATERS AND TYPICAL DAYS 67 



He put on another bait, and we watched our floats 

 frisking about in this small haven at discretion. 

 Then we walked off prospecting, with the result that 

 we happened upon a second bit of open water longer 

 and broader than the other, but much more difficult 

 as a point of operation. A tangled margin of rushy 

 marsh had to be cautiously crossed, and then came 

 a hard ridge of bank bordered with chevaux de frise 

 of stubborn reed mace. 



It being possible to get out the line from this 

 awkward base by the exercise of much patience and a 

 temper not to be angered by the inevitable entangle- 

 ments that must happen with the artful growths in 

 the midst of which we stood, we marked the situation, 

 concocted a plan of campaign, and returned to 

 the old spot to find the floats just as we left them, 

 with the difference that they were quite stationary, 

 signifying of course that the baits had been killed by 

 the cold water. The little fishes in the can which 

 had been submerged were probably now acclimatised 

 to the frosty temperature, and we were somewhat 

 consoled by the evidences of no actual freezing in 

 progress. The snap tackle on double hooks was 

 removed and replaced by single hooks on gimp. That 

 was the one promising chance left us to fish with 

 a single hook inserted in the lip of the smallest 



