FISHES AND PISHING. 133 



men went to work with great spirit, and as they got 

 the water lower, the buckets, the contents of which 

 were thrown on the nearly surrounding sand bank, 

 from whence the water ran into the river, were found 

 to be half white fish, and the place was crowded with 

 the children of the poorer villagers, who obtained as 

 much fish as they could carry home. When the 

 water became more reduced, the men were able to 

 get into the hole, and caught a large quantity of 

 carp, perch, pike, and eels, the latter from two to 

 four pounds each, which had left their retreats 

 amongst the chalk stones for want of water, and 

 came rolling down into the hole. The men were taking 

 off their shirts to make bags to hold their fish, and 

 some had done so, when just at the moment when 

 the excitement of the actors in the scene, and that of 

 the spectators was at its height, and those who had 

 laboured so hard were obtaining their reward, some 

 lover of mischief, or some one who was jealous of the 

 success attending those who had undertaken the work, 

 broke the dam, and the men, children, and all con- 

 cerned, were obliged to scramble out of the way of 

 the rushing water as quickly as possible. It was 

 not known who played off this trick, else I think he 

 or they would have had a chance for a swim in the 

 bay hole, for the anger of the disappointed labourers 

 was increased by the laughter of the numerous spec- 



