FISHES AND FISHING. 181 



nautical concern before-named, I had had a passport, 

 which enabled me to pass through the gates of Calais 

 either way, with any number of persons in my com- 

 pany, at any hour of the night ; and as the Com- 

 mandant often wanted me to go out of the port, or 

 into the Bas Ville, he redated the parchment docu- 

 ment, and stated thereon that I was to fpass free. 

 This was the advantage I derived from being his in- 

 terpreter, as thereby I could go out on the port. 



Any remittance from England was out of the ques- 

 tion, whilst matters were in this unsettled state as 

 regarded the English detenues, and as all I possessed 

 nearly was vested in the vessel before named, upon 

 which the French government first laid an embargo, 

 and then confiscated : whether the Swedish captain 

 obtained any compensation I do not know, I did not ; 

 so that I was obliged to be very careful of every sous. 

 There was a large canal of fresh water, part of the 

 moat of the fort at Calais ; seeing some Erench boys 

 catch small fish close to the edge, I considered I might 

 obtain larger ones by fishing farther out, and having 

 a very long rod, I tried the experiment, and caught 

 many roach and perch of half a pound each ; and by 

 laying eel lines, whilst I was angling, I often added 

 a good-sized eel or two, making very acceptable din- 

 ners and suppers, which my knowledge of angling 

 •fortunately afforded me. 



