A MEMORABLE YEAR 149 



my usual flight and small dead roach ; water still very 

 clouded, and a nasty north-east biting wind ; got six fish 

 in all, three of them in successive casts from under the flags 

 of the island below Hartford : 7 Ibs., 5| Ibs., 5 Ibs., 4j Ibs., 

 4 Ibs., 3 J Ibs. 30 Ibs. in all ; and returned four smaller to 

 the river. 



Nov. 2&th. Again tried the same water, and the same 

 bait ; wind and water very much the same as on the 

 previous occasion, but only got one fish, a little less than 

 4 Ibs. 



Nov. 3O/A. Went up the river towards Offord, and tried 

 for hours with both sprats and small roach ; water still 

 clouded, and a fair stream running ; nice rippling breeze ; 

 not a run until dusk, when I put on my old spoon as a last 

 hope and got a handsome six-pounder. 



Dec. i8th. Did not get out again until eighteen days 

 later, when I again visited St. Neots, started below the 

 paper mills, and spun down to Wray House Island. Water 

 was now clearing a bit, but frost was in the air ; wind north- 

 west ; spinning with small dace, on the old tackle ; four 

 fish kept, three others returned : 6 Ibs. 12 ozs., 5 Ibs., 4f Ibs., 

 and 3 Ibs. 



Dec. igth. Thought I would go again, as things seemed 

 so promising on the previous day ; wind not quite so keen 

 and cold ; natural bait again tried, but only two sizable 

 fish came to bag, 7 Ibs. the two. 



Dec. 2jth. Had another go, as Christmas was over ; so 

 went round the Port Holme, spun all round, and only got 

 one fish ; wind keen and cutting ; water on the bright side. 



Jan. is/, 1900. New Year's Day ; took out the spinning 

 rod, and mounted indifferent roach on my old spinning 

 flight ; did not get a run until dusk, when I landed a brace 

 of handsome fish, I2j Ibs. the two ; this is the New Year's 

 bag described in my other book, Fishing Days and Ways. 



Jan. 4/A. Went round the Port Holme again, using the 

 same old spinning flight ; got one fish, 4^ Ibs., out of Pike 

 Bay. 



