STRIKING AND PLAYING III 



One day, late in August, he beckoned me, and on joining 

 him he said, " See 'er, ole sow spawning, and thair be 

 killer o'er thair. Never know'd um so early bevore." 

 Old Bill did not need glasses to distinguish the hen and 

 cock fish, though some minutes elapsed before I could 

 detect the cock fish waiting in the dark shade of the 

 bank-side bushes. 



Old Bill handed the ruler to me and said, " Purty small 

 fer tu kill that 'un. Us allus uses aller sticks wen us 

 goes clatting fer eels. Fine sticks, allers be. Give um 

 a clout on 'ead and snuffs um in a jiffy." 



" Aller sticks ? " I queried. 



" Yus, um as grows on this 'ere bush. Us allus calls 

 um aller sticks," replied old Bill, pointing to an alder 

 bush. 



I do not know the efficacy of an alder stick. Some 

 day, perhaps, I will give a trial to this kind of weapon, 

 but meanwhile I can unreservedly recommend a boxwood 

 ruler. 



Before concluding this chapter I should like to make a 

 strong appeal to anglers generally to support their sport. 

 Unfortunately there are innumerable men who go fishing 

 year after year and who never give a thought to the 

 necessity of safeguarding their interests. This neglect 

 is not only detrimental to themselves, but is scarcely fair 

 to those who are striving to protect the game. If every- 

 body failed in what is really a duty, angling would reach 

 a sorry pass. When you remember that, within the 

 lifetime of the present generation, many rivers have 

 become dead owing to pollution and that others are 

 rapidly approaching that horrid stage, you will com- 

 prehend the pressing need for action. To catch fish is 

 a most enjoyable recreation, but we have to see that the 

 stock is maintained and if possible replenished. This 

 desirability can be attained solely by every angler being 



