WITH ROD AND GUN ON THE MARSHES 33 



the exception of the seventeen-pounder, proved " marsh- 

 men's sprats," for the biggest of them only scaled 7| lb. 



The last fish run would, I believe, have proved a 

 second " mad dawg " had he been landed, but the poor 

 old bamboo went " bust " at a very early stage of the 

 encounter, and the big fish went off, carrying with him 

 more lead, steel, gimp, and flax than he would be able 

 to digest in a month of Sundays. 



That same afternoon I left N Island and its 



inhabitants in the only conveyance obtainable — viz. an 

 old tumbril- cart drawn by an ancient Suffolk Punch ; and 

 three hours later, well laden with fish and fowl, I found 

 myself standing on Liverpool Street Railway Station. 



