300 WHAT 1 HAVE SEEN WHILE PISHING 



CHAPTER II. 



THE THAMES. 



THE BARBEL AND HOW TO BAIT FOR HIM THE BEST FRIEND 

 THAMES FISH EVER HAD THE BREAM GUDGEON PARTIES. 



SHALL I write of the upper reaches or the lower ? 

 Shall we go up from Old Windsor towards the 

 river's rise or down from Egham Lock towards 

 its fall, down past Staines, The Hook, Laleham, 

 Chertsey Weir and bridge, past Dumsey Deeps ? 

 Stay a moment here ; it was Dumsey Deeps I 

 baited for the best friend Thames fish ever had. 



He was also the kindest possible patron to the 

 professional fishermen yet not one amongst their 

 number try how they would, and no doubt they 

 tried their best, could ever show him sport. 



BARBEL. 



For some years I resided quite near this spot and 

 I offered him a bed and a try with me. He ac- 

 cepted an invitation for that day week and, in the 

 meantime, I baited three barbel swims ; Dumsey 



