194 FISHES AND PISHING. 



occasions of their meeting, to visit him at his 

 sylvan residence ; and, amongst other inducements, 

 promised, though he was no angler himself, to 

 afford his friend the sport of angling in his water. 

 This attracted the Londoner ; a day was fixed, and our 

 angler arrived with a full complement of rods, lines, 

 baits, &c., and was anxious to commence ; — hut no ! 

 luncheon was first to be disposed of; after which the 

 host introduced his friend to his water, which proved 

 to be a little round basin, not wider than the length 

 of one of the rods the angler had brought with him. 

 As must be naturally imagined, the visitor was disap- 

 pointed and vexed, though he did not choose to shew 

 his vexation; and, on the assurance that there were 

 perch in the pond, he put his tackle together, and the 

 moment he dropped his bait into the water, he hooked 

 a fine perch ; another, and another, followed ; and 

 when his friend came to tell him dinner was ready, 

 and enquired as to the success he had had, the angler 

 showed him thirty-five perch. ** Well !'* said the 

 good-hearted host, ** I am glad you have had such 

 sport ; I caused three dozen to be put in the day be- 

 fore yesterday.*' ** Oh !" replied the angler, " I will 

 take the other, and then I shall have nothing to do in 

 that way, after dinner." 



Another anecdote, arising through perch fishing 

 may be introduced here. A tanner at Esher, haviug 



