FTSHF8 AND FISHING. 23 1 



by the side of the road leading from Leyton to As- 

 sembly Row. In the island pond there were, and 

 probably are, a great quantity of mussels of an im- 

 mense size ; and in a pond near, the neighbours say, 

 was found an oyster alive ! The surplus of water 

 from the great pond runs into a convenient receptacle, 

 on the right side of the road to Leyton, which supplies 

 the neighbourhood with water ; thence the super- 

 abundance passes across the road, under an arch, to 

 an immense water-cress bed, and thence into a branch 

 of the River Lea. It is probable there are fine eels 

 in these ponds. - 



Curious circumstances occur to anglers, or are seen 

 by them. Dr. Gillespie relates, that he saw a swallow 

 from above, and a trout from below, both pounce 

 upon the same June fly ; down came the swallow, 

 and up came the open mouth of the trout, into which 

 in pursuit of his prey, the swallow pitched his head : 

 the struggle was not long, but severe ; the swallow 

 was once or twice nearly immersed in the water, 

 wingk^and all, before he disentangled himself from 

 the sharp teeth of the trout. Both bird and fish must 

 have been much frightened at the encounter. 

 (Scrope's *' Tweed.") 



A gentleman, fishing with live May-flies in the 

 Wye, and having one on his hook, went into an inn 

 on the roadside, leaving his rod on the outside ; a 



