230 FISHES AND FISHING. ' 



However, I put my rod together, baited my hook, 

 and threw in some pellets of paste — but they re- 

 mained untouched. Presently three or four genteel 

 boys approached me ; and one, respectfully, asked if 

 I had had any sport ? I replied in the negative ; when 

 judge of the disappointment of an angler, not very 

 fond of bottom fishing, even in a river, after being a 

 fly-fisher, and'still less of it in a pond, to be told, — 

 " I do not think you will have any sport. Sir ; for 

 the pond was netted, and every fish that could be 

 caught was taken out, about three or four days ago ; 

 and here are the places where the nets were dragged 

 on shore," shewing me evident marks on the bank. 

 I therefore put up my tackle, returned home, and 

 never since have wetted a line in a pond. 



There were in ancient times, as chronicles tell, 

 " abundance of choice fish in this pond, also in a pond 

 above, with an island in it.'* These waters belonged 

 to, and formed part of the ornaments attached to a 

 large house and grounds adjoining, whose owners 

 lived in great splendour, had boats on the two ponds, 

 and with music and fireworks, &c., on the island, and 

 dancing on the lawns, enlivened the whole neigh- 

 bourhood. Now the island pond is nearly dried up, 

 serving only as a passage for the water to the large 

 pond from a rivulet, which is formed_by a spring in a 

 pond above Buryfield Farm, about a mile to the north. 



