24 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



your tranquillity. We grant you our sympathj', but 

 deny you our company. 



Pass we on to the more ambitious angler, even to our 

 adventurous acquaintance, Mr. John Poplin. He cannot 

 submit to the worm, paste, or float — not he. His skilful 

 arm is practised to wave his rod gracefully, with nothing- 

 less at the end of the line than the green granam fly. 

 Reclining on his sofa, and tinted with a slight effusion 

 of bile, he has seen on one auspicious morn a seductive 

 advertisement, headed " Trout Fishing." With eager 

 pen he responds to A.B. ; pays a guinea for a ticket to 

 enable him to angle for trout during a whole season, 

 in a part of the river Wandle that is strictly preserved. 

 How very cheap ! After pulling about monstrous fish 

 in his dreams all night, he pays his guinea, and drives 

 off to the Elysian fields : there he beholds the whole 

 extent of the fishery lying before him, — a mill-pond 

 full seventy yards long, one side only belonging to the 

 advertiser in right of a small water meadow. The 

 spot seems a favourite one ; for a goodly company of 

 citizens are extended along the bank in line at three 

 feet asunder — a similar number on the opposite bank. 

 Now three feet is a liberal allowance, for only two are 

 granted for a soldier standing in close order. With 

 graceful obeisance and skilful tact he apologises, and 

 wedges himself into line ; hooks his neighbour's tackle 

 on the right the very first throw, whilst he on his left 

 hooks his. They remonstrate, and extricate with pro- 

 per courtesy. Not particular^ admiring his position, 

 which he deems crowded, he backs out, quits the ranks, 

 and in evil hour trespasses on the water below. Then 



