EARLY DAYS 9 



As a result of war there is a tendency now to calcu- 

 late things in terms of market-supply, and there, it 

 may be, eels make a braver show than trout. But 

 the sporting factor counts for a great deal and, I 

 hope, always will. There the trout has the advan- 

 tage. After all there is plenty of room in this 

 country for developing the eel-fisheries very greatly 

 without interfering with trout, so there is not likely 

 to be any danger of a conflict of interests. But 

 enough of eels. 



One of the bravest days that ever I had was on 

 the same brook near the Severn Sea. Another 

 boy and two landing nets formed my assistants, the 

 other boy really being the prime mover. Oddly 

 enough, I have forgotten both his name and face, 

 which is ungrateful of me, for he was a handy fellow 

 with a net in a brook, and I believe he let me take 

 all the trout a dozen there must have been home 

 with me. I remember the fishing much more 

 vividly than anything else, how we prodded under 

 tree roots and sloping banks, and how ejected trout 

 came with a thud into the waiting net. I remember, 

 also, a little fall near the farm which we drew blank, 

 and were much surprised thereat, until we discovered 

 a sort of secret drawer at the back of the foam. 

 Thence came the biggest trout of the day. I have 

 always considered him a pound and a half. He 

 bulked large among the others. 



