208 FISHK.S AND FISHING. 



fishermen, as we passed, wbich I determined to avoid 

 in future, if possible. I had, therefore, a kind of 

 pouch-bag made, the pattern of which I had from my 

 old friend Mr. H. ; this being carried in the pocket, 

 was only called into requisition if fish were caught ; 

 whereas a basket is an incumbrance going, and also a 

 still greater nuisance in returning, particularly if you 

 have no fish in it. Next, to prevent the rod being 

 seen as such, I obtained a dark bamboo cane with a 

 root to it, such as is often used for the stick of an 

 umbrella ; I had a ferule at the small end, with a 

 cap screwed on, into the ferule fitted the screw of an 

 Irish landing-net of silk, the rim being in four pieces 

 of wood and brass ; I had a partition bag for the rod, 

 made of some light material, and when this was 

 wrapped round the centre stick, which projected at 

 top and bottom, even a very close observer woiild 

 have considered it was an umbrella. At the top of 

 this centre stick I had a female brass screw inserted, 

 to receive a small spear, for the purpose of placing 

 my landing net upright from the ground, to prevent 

 it being trodden on, and also to enable me in trout 

 fishing to see in a moment whereabouts it was. With 

 these arrangements, I could go out or come home 

 without any one supposing I had been angling ; but 

 this led to two or three rather ludicrous mistakes. 

 One day I was caught in a heavy shower on 



