THE ANCIENT ART OF TROLLING 103 



and unquestioned method of fishing for pike. About 

 twenty-five years ago, however, the evils of the dead 

 gorge began to be pointed out and the practice of 

 using it denounced. One of the oldest of London 

 angling societies, perhaps the oldest of all, is the 

 True Waltonian, which was established in 1830, 

 and the coat of arms composed by the founders is a 

 pictorial representation of two stalwart gentlemen 

 in the low crowned, curly brimmed hats and high 

 collared coats of the period, supporting a shield 

 upon which the words ' With only these ' are inscribed, 

 encircling a triangle in which are entwined a pike 

 and a trout. Round the border are sketches of an 

 angler's equipment of the days when the century was 

 young. There are floats, plummets, bait cans, reels, 

 but never a sign of a spinning bait. The gorge hook, 

 however, sign manual of trolling, and the necessary 

 baiting needle are conspicuous; the angler on the 

 right-hand side of the shield is dangling an artificial 

 fly, while his brother on the left holds in his fingers 

 the dead roach ready for trolling. 



It has been before asserted that this was a most 

 delightful form of fishing, and what further space is 

 devoted to the subject will serve, not only as a remi- 

 niscence, but as an instruction to fishers on streams 

 where pike are to be regarded as vermin and therefore 



