A WH1T-MONDA Y FISHING 259 



resort of every form of wild life in the neighbourhood. 

 The leverets come down to nibble the rich grass at 

 night, and play along the sides of the tiny dykes ; and 

 in the early morning the cock-pheasants slip out from 

 the covers to drink and feed. The peewits are tamer 

 there than on the hills above, and the wood-pigeons, 

 rooks, and jackdaws bathe in the shallows, and leave 

 their broken feathers and footmarks on the soft mud. 

 Big trout leave the main stream and slip into the cuts, 

 where they grow fat on the grubs and insects and 

 little trout, and even young salmon force their way 

 up to the upper waters, until they reach the utmost 

 sources of the stream. 



Owners of the ancient fishponds once attached to 

 every house of consideration in the country-side, re- 

 membering the old saying that an acre of water is 

 worth four acres of land, often take advantage of the 

 chance offered by the subdivision of these streams to 

 re-stock their home waters with young and lively trout ; 

 and if the streams are not too high, a " Whit-Monday 

 fishing " with this object will convince the most 

 sceptical visitor that the fun and merriment of the 

 good old days in the country have by no means passed 

 away, and that master and man may still unite in 

 the common pursuit of sport and amusement. For 

 sport it is, though catching, not killing, be the object, 

 and the quarry only lively little brook-trout, and eels, 

 and lamperns, destined, however, to grow strong and 

 lusty fish in the fat waters of the manor pond. Nor 

 need the Hampshire fly-fisher share the feelings of 



