302 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



able ; and then us must go up the Crouch above Burnham, 

 for us must always keep agoing with the tide." 



The net was hauled, and although the catch of 

 soles was smaller than before, the contents were 

 more varied. Amongst other fish captured was a 

 roker, weighing 15| lb., which had torn a big hole in 

 the " pocket," and was in the act of escaping from the 

 net when Maldoon " collared " him in the nick of 

 time. 



Unfortunately, however, my Irish friend, not being 

 particularly well versed in the anatomy of fishes, plunged 

 two fingers into the great open mouth of the hideous - 

 looking creature, and the next moment, with a yell of 

 pain, he was jumping about the deck with Master Roker 

 hanging on like grim death — not to a nigger, but to 

 Patrick's fingers; and it was not until Dan forced a 

 marling spike into the fish's mouth that it relinquished 

 its hold. Then we found that poor Maldoon's fingers 

 were very badly lacerated ; indeed, the top of one was 

 almost bitten off. 



" Hang me, if ever I touch one of those ugly cat-tailed 

 divils again," cried he, as we bandaged up his mutilated 

 hand. I have an idea that Pat will keep his vow. 



The rest of the day was spent in trawling between 

 Fambridge Ferry and the mouth of the Roach river ; but 

 to give an account of each haul of the net made during 

 that long October day would, I am afraid, prove mono- 

 tonous. Suffice it to say that Maldoon and myself carried 

 over 10 lb. weight of fine soles back to London the same 



