THE PUFF PISCA TORIAL. 209 



been so unreasonable to suppose that some good- 

 natured friend might have mildly suggested to him 

 the possibility of a connection in the mind of the 

 irreverent vulgar between Worcester grasshoppers 

 and Jerusalem ponies. But not a bit of it ! Mr. 

 Allies speedily returns to the charge, only refreshed 

 apparently by his previous efforts, and for the space 

 of two years scatters his 'hoppers' broadcast over the 

 verdant of the Field. Here is an example : 



"My caution in your columns of last season as to not 

 using the artificial grasshopper for taking grayling does not 

 seem to be of any avail. Gentlemen anglers are even now, in 

 the extreme lowness of our parched-up streams, taking grayling 

 wholesale with these destructive baits, and thereby spoiling 

 the choicest of all fly-fishers' autumn and winter sport. I 

 know, from the quantities of country orders for these baits, 

 that mischief is brewing. Gentlemen, once more, let the gray- 

 ling be left for the fly-fisher, and don't (ear these beautiful sport- 

 ive fish from their native element neck and crop with these rough 

 anglers' contrivances" Field, 27th August 1864. 



Now is it not funny ? Here is poor Mr. Allies, 

 who has got to get his grasshoppers, like so many 

 unmarriageable daughters, off his hands, and at the 

 same time to maintain an elevated and pure standard 

 of sporting morals in the midst of the first grayling 

 county in the world. 



Well, grasshoppers are deadly things, no doubt, 

 and Mr. Allies makes them ; so far it is all plain 

 sailing: but if the clubs won't have them forbid 



