A MORNING'S FISHING. 31 



protection. But for public or private waters where 

 the angler fixes his own limit, Jib. is high enough ; 

 he will not often catch too many above that weight. 

 A perch of ilb. is a good one, a 2-pounder is a 

 big one, and a 3-pounder is worthy of a glass case. 

 Anything over 4lb. is an event in angling history. 



While we have been gossiping the novice has 

 caught another, Jib. this time, which has joined its 

 fellow in the creel, and now he is face to face with a 

 new situation. His float got into the main stream, 

 and so worked further out into the eddy about four 

 yards from the wall. Then, without warning, it 

 vanished, drawn under as by a firm hand. The 

 rod was raised smartly after the due interval, and a 

 solid weight was encountered. This suddenly 

 changed into an active and violent resistance, and 

 the fish bolted into the strong stream, swimming 

 with or being carried by it right out into the pool. 

 Taken aback by these events the novice has been 

 perforce content simply to hold the rod up and 

 let the fish pull line off the reel. Now, however, it 

 is twenty yards away, where the current is more 

 diffused and less strong, so he can begin to wind in 

 again, working the fish sideways into the eddy. It 

 comes back fairly quietly until it is almost under 

 the rod, but it is deep down and invisible. Then it 

 makes another dash for the stream, but the 



