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accepted it at once, each to fish with what baits he thought 

 proper, both to fish on the same mile of water, and to keep 

 twenty yards apart. The match to be for the greatest weight 

 of Eoach, no other fish to be weighed in. The 22nd or 23rd 

 of August was the day appointed, and we both started off to 

 the Trent, five miles from Derby. On arriving at the place I 

 proposed a glass of ale, but my opponent would not agree to 

 that, being very anxious to commence work, so I told him to go 

 on, and I should be with him in a short time. I staid and had 

 my glass of ale, so that he had about half an hour's start of me. 

 When I joined him I saw a spread on the bank that astonished 

 me : there, on a cloth, lay arranged, in perfect order, gentles in a 

 tin box, grains, creed malt, and wheat, white and red paste, and 

 a piece of white bread baits which I considered sufficient to 

 catch all the Roach in the Trent if properly fished with. After 

 taking stock of this display, I enquired what sport he had had. 

 " I have not got them together yet," he answered, " I have only 

 caught one about two ounces ; they will come on to bite presently* 

 and then I shall have plenty to do to bait and take the fish off 

 the hook." I then left him and went to seek out a place for 

 myself. The water being a little coloured, and three or four 

 inches 'higher than usual, I selected a gentle swim on a 

 gravelly bottom, about three feet deep. All the baits I had, 

 and all I cared for, were about two hundred dew worms. I was 

 quickly tackled out, with a nice light rod, fine silk line, small 

 quill float, No. 8 hook, baited with the tail end of a well-scoured 

 female lob. The style of fishing I will give you by and by. 

 Well, every swim I had either a fish or a bite of Roach, Dace, 

 Perch, or Chub, but chiefly Roach. I commenced at half-past 

 ten, and at one o'clock I found I had at least twelve pounds 

 of Roach, besides other fish. I then lit my pipe, and made up 

 my mind to take it easy. While I was enjoying my smoke, up 

 came my antagonist, who asked me what sport I had had. I 

 answered, that if the fish continued to bite as they had been 

 doing, I should catch a good number before the time was up. I 

 asked him if he had caught any more. " Very few," he replied, 



