FOURTH DAY. 107 



he bore a hedge-bill, offered him half-a- 

 crown to go into the stream and kill the 

 fish, but the fellow, for some unknown 

 reason, refused the offer, and went on his 

 way. There was no alternative, therefore, 

 but playing the fish for nearly an hour 

 longer, when the angler had the satisfaction 

 of seeing it turn up completely exhausted. 

 The prize was secured, and found to weigh 

 eighteen pounds ! 



J. Do you always advocate the use of 

 a landing-net ? 



S. There is something to be said pro and 

 con as to its use. If the banks of the stream 

 in which you are fishing are steep, there 

 can be no doubt of its usefulness ; but if 

 the shore is sloping, I do not hesitate to 

 say that you will kill your fish in much 

 less time without it, especially if you are 

 alone. If your attendant is not really ex- 

 pert in the use of the landing-net, he is 

 worse than useless. I have on several occa- 



