326 WHA T I HAVE SEEN WHILE FISHING 



pounder. It was not weighed. I brought it near 

 the bank and, as it lay upon its side, the Eynsham 

 lock-keeper dropped the landing-net fair upon its 

 nose, fouled the hooks and freed the fish. 



Thirty years had I sought and tried each 

 likely place from Teddington to Lechlade for him 

 or his equal, and my chance had come and gone. 

 Such a chance comes twice to no man. 



For spinning I use a 1 1 ft. 6 in. Grant Vibra- 

 tion Rod as seen in Lumsden's hands, a No. E 

 Olena line, a small Geen's lead, and then 4 feet 

 of wire, to which is attached my hook tackle, 

 which consists of a thin piece of lead that may 

 be pushed down the gullet of the bleak until it 

 reaches to near the tail, when the mouth is closed 

 on it, leaving only the swivel that is attached 

 thereto shewing. I whip a length of fine white 

 silk round the gills and bend the fish to the proper 

 form. I then fix the two small triangle hooks, 

 that are hanging to the swivel, in such a way as 

 to assist the lead in keeping the bait the correct 

 shape. 



It is accepted as a fact by many, myself among 

 them, that Thames trout will live to a great age 

 and their jaws become so separated by the up- 

 turning of their lengthy snout that they die of 

 starvation. For these old gentlemen a half-pound 

 roach, so weighted that its movements are much 

 hampered, is the only chance ; but they are so 

 few and far between that you might in the time 



