ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 163 



secret of roe-fishing is in fact to strike immediately 

 upon the progress of the hook appearing in any de- 

 gree checked, and not defer doing so until we sus- 

 tain a direct and palpable assault. But you employ 

 too large a bait, and compress it artificially round 

 your wire, like a soap-ball, designed to cleanse the 

 outside rather than tickle the palate. A bit the size 

 of a horse-bean is sufficient; and note you, Bill, 

 allow it to cling to the steel-barb, as you naturally 

 remove it on your finger-point from the jar which 

 contains it. But I have hold of something huge ; 'tis 

 a sea-trout methinks, black, lubberly, and impotent. 

 He wallops down the river without half his ordinary 

 strength, and can with difficulty draw out a fathom 

 of line from my reel. I pity the poor fellow, and 

 should I land him, shall suffer him to escape. He 

 is of no account out of his element save as manure ; 

 even crows would pick lazily at him ! 



May. Toss him to me, Tom, he will aid wonder- 

 fully the filling of my pannier. 



Otter. Nay, nay; 'tis a fish forbidden, and must 

 off out of sight in a twinkling. There are water 

 bailiffs about the place, that no doubt keep eye upon 

 us; moreover, I have a certain strong respect for 

 the close-season, and am unwilling to violate the 

 enactments relating to it by the detention even of 

 a paltry finnock. 



May. This sounds well; but, faith! 'tis somewhat 

 questionable. I had rather trust gold with a knave 

 than a goodly salmon with thee, Master Otter, be 



