Wiring Fish. 1 8 1 



less, fully aware of the concealed ill-will towards him ; 

 and perhaps this knowledge has contributed to render 

 him more morose, and sharper of temper, and more 

 suspicious of human nature than he would otherwise 

 have been ; for it never improves a man's character 

 to have to be constantly watching his fellows. 



The streams are no more sacred from marauders 

 than the woods and preserves. The brooks and 

 upper waters are not so full of fish as formerly, the 

 canal into which they fall being netted so much ; and 

 another cause of the diminution is the prevalence of 

 fish-poaching, especially for jack, during the spawning 

 season and afterwards. Though the keepers can 

 check this within their own boundaries, it is not of 

 much use. 



Fish-poaching is simple and yet clever in its way. 

 In the spawning time jack fish, which at other 

 periods are apparently of a solitary disposition, go in 

 pairs, and sometimes in trios, and are more tame than 

 usual. A long slender ash stick is selected, slender 

 enough to lie light in the hand and strong enough to 

 bear a sudden weight. A loop and running noose 

 are formed of a piece of thin copper wire, the other 

 end of which is twisted round and firmly attached to 

 the smaller end of the stick. The loop is adjusted to 

 the size of the fish — it should not be very much 



