TUBBER TURNER. 349 



" Yes, and the result was still more con- 

 clusive," said the Captain. " He thinned 

 down his numbers, so as to give the fish 

 room to grow, and waited to see what would 

 come of them. At the end of every two 

 months he had drawings taken of the Jen- 

 kins in their several stages, which drawings 

 are in my possession, and which I will show 

 you whenever you please. At first they 

 merely increased in size, but before long 

 they gradually began to lose their black 

 finger-marks and trout-like appearance, and 

 to put on the glittering and silvery armour 

 that we know so well ; till, at last, having 

 fully satisfied himself, and, I hope, you also, 

 he took off the roof of his cage, and turned 

 them into the river, undoubted salmon. 

 And these undoubted salmon are what those 

 rascally boys are stringing up by dozens 

 before our eyes." 



" Well," said the Squire, " we must make 

 the best of a bad job. If we cannot get rid 

 of the fishing-boys, at least we can ornament 

 our sketch-books with them ; for I contend, 

 as I said before, that the scene would not be 

 half what it is without them." 



ft There are some more picturesque figures 



