A GUDGEON-HUNTER. 167 



from the ploughed lands ; and, as the practice of liming 

 them is very prevalent, the waters are obnoxious to 

 the fish. I have often wondered how the trout could 

 possibly survive this state of things ; but they do 

 survive it, by keeping at the eddies and close to the 

 banks amongst the grass, where the pout nets haul 

 them out by dozens. 



Though I have given the foregoing instructions with 

 much pleasure, I would not advise any one who wishes 

 to stand well with society to utter a word about his 

 propensity for fishing. It is generally thought a poor, 

 inanimate occupation ; and so, indeed, it is in some 

 cases ; and yet the passion is so strong, that I believe 

 the sedentary angler who catches a roach or dace, 

 worthless though he be, and weak and diminutive 

 withal, has as much pleasure in his way, as the proud 

 conqueror of a twenty-pound salmon. 



I was once rowing on the Thames when a friend 

 hailed me from afar, and beckoned with joyous and 

 eager solicitation. Though I was pressed for time, 

 I pulled up to him against the wind and stream, for I 

 thought he had something of great moment to impart; 

 but it was only to say, " that I would be glad to hear 

 he had caught two dozen gudgeons that morning." 

 But I do not think I was glad, at least not particularly 

 so, though he was a very worthy man. 



As for myself, if I am ever so indiscreet as to utter 

 a word about fishing, I am always asked, " if it does 

 not require a great deal of patience." Now, these sort 

 of interrogators are in Cimmerian darkness as to the 

 real thing. But I tell them, that to be a first-rate 



