RANDOM CASTS 141 



ing vicar mentioned in one of the foregoing chapters, who 

 happens to be a relative of the people at the big house, 

 has had a day in the lake. We peep into the huge well 

 of the big fishing-punt ; a score of jack are there ; and 

 one of them goes twenty-five pounds, and another eighteen. 

 What matters it if rules are stringent, and only a brace of 

 fish allowed to be taken away, the brace selected is a load 

 big enough in all conscience. We see the remaining 

 eighteen, some of them fourteen and fifteen pounds each, 

 dive down again to the very depths when set at liberty. 

 We find that fifty live baits have been expended. The 

 luncheon sent from the house was discussed from the top 

 of the punt's well ; the wild duck were whirling in clouds 

 down the lower end ; and as we drive away in the dog- 

 cart down the drives in the fast-gathering gloom we feel at 

 peace with all mankind. 



Thoresby Lake, close to Earl Manver's place in the 

 Dukeries, is another pike and perch preserve of the very 

 first magnitude ; those small islands and fancy rustic 

 bridges that connect them look very picturesque ; while 

 the river that flows through the lake adds a charming 

 variety to the scene. I saw a twenty-four pounder one 

 day that had been taken from there ; and walking along 

 a small stream not far from the lake, just under the shadow 

 of a wooden bridge, I saw a shoal of five perch that almost 

 took away my breath. I gasped, they were easily the 

 largest five I had ever seen together, and unconcernedly 

 they swam in and out from under that bridge. Oh, for 

 a paternoster and a dozen gudgeon but I see a keeper 

 has a suspicious eye, so I go on ; but they were perch. 



TRING LAKES 



There are a series of lakes belonging to the Hon. Walter 

 Rothschild at Tring, in Hertfordshire, that contain capital 

 pike, perch, and other coarse fish. This place is about an 

 hour's ride by rail from Euston ; but arriving at Tring a 



