106 FISHING IN EDEN 



known the sheriff could not sit down to dinner with- 

 out fish. 



By soon after twelve o'clock the strap was biting 

 into my shoulder, and I was glad to turn out the 

 contents of the pannier into a butter bowl at a farm, 

 to be called for later on. Between three and four 

 it was getting heavy again, and the great day came 

 to a glorious end with the capture of a three-and- 

 a-half pounder the bonniest fish I have ever 

 caught, before or since. 



On getting home I emptied the take of nineteen 

 and a half pounds into a favourite old butter basket 

 of my mother's, and sent them down to my friend 

 in good time for his evening guests. 



Thereby hangs a tale, which I must perforce tell, 

 even at the risk of being considered tedious. About 

 a year later the aforesaid proprietor called on my 

 mother to say that he was putting up for election 

 as a town councillor, and that he hoped he might 

 rely on her vote. She replied that he could have it 

 provided he returned the old butter basket which 

 had been sent with that catch twelve months before. 



Worming I consider justifiable under the condi- 

 tions named, but it is not in any sense to be confused 

 with worming in a spate ; and beyond a knowledge of 

 the habits of trout it requires, for its successful 

 practice, nicety of casting; skill at keeping out of 



