172 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



Otter. Faith ! we are a posse of pretty scoundrels, 

 and merit well the pillory for our intentions; ne'er- 

 theless, we shall not draw back in the matter. 



Exeunt. 



We possess no lengthened record of the black- 

 fishing alluded to in the above conversation. Ifc 

 seems, however, that Tom Otter took no inactive 

 share in the proceedings of the evening, and actually 

 slaughtered with his own hand a trio of huge kip- 

 pers, much to the satisfaction of his friend Leister; 

 who thenceforward prided himself not a little in 

 having vanquished so effectually the scruples of his 

 brother angler. The burning, or water-foray, as it 

 may appropriately be termed, proved on the whole 

 a successful one. Seventy fish, salmon, bull-trout, 

 and grilses, bit the shore; yet, strange to say, so 

 monstrous and sinful a butchery elicited no further 

 comment from the late traducer of the spear-system, 

 than " 'tis a marvel the simple fools knew not their 

 element better I" A convivial meeting was held 

 by the club on the following evening, which was 

 attended by Leister, Otter, Swiveltop, Gaff, May- 

 fly, and Hackle. 



The year was now drawing to a close, and our 

 anglers had resolved to lay aside for a time the im- 

 plements of their craft, and betake themselves reso- 

 lutely to the more serious occupations of life. 



A sketch of the farewell feast, devised and parti- 



