1881 WORK AS FISHERY INSPECTOR 303 



One year's work as Inspector was very like another. 

 In 1882, for instance, on January 21, he is at Berwick, 

 " voiceless but jolly " ; in the spring he had to attend 

 a Fisheries Exhibition in Edinburgh, and writes : 



April 12. We have opened our Exhibition, and I 

 have been standing about looking at the contents until 

 my back is broken. 



April 13. The weather here is villainous a regular 

 Edinburgh " coorse day." I have seen all I wanted to 

 see of the Exhibition, eaten two heavy dinners, one with 

 Primrose and one with Young, and want to get home. 

 Walpole and I are dining domestically at home this 

 evening, having virtuously refused all invitations. 



In June he was in Hampshire; on July 25 he 

 writes from Tynemouth : 



I reached here about 5 o'clock, and found the bailiff 

 or whatever they call him of the Board of Conservators, 

 awaiting me with a boat at my disposal. So we went off 

 to look at what they call " The Playground " two bays 

 in which the salmon coming from the sea rest and disport 

 themselves until a fresh comes down the river and they 

 find it convenient to ascend. Harbottle bailiff in question 

 is greatly disturbed at the amount of poaching that goes 

 on in the playground, and unfolded his griefs to me at 

 length. It was a lovely evening, very calm, and I 

 enjoyed my boat expedition. To-morrow there is to be 

 another to see the operations of a steam trawler, which 

 in all probability I shall not enjoy so much. I shall 

 take a light breakfast. 



These were the pleasanter parts of the work. The 

 less pleasant was sitting all day in a crowded court, 

 hearing a disputed case of fishing rights, or examining 



