134 MAY 



A year later, in April 1896, we drew the pond 

 again, and this time many trout and seven bass 

 were drawn to land. But it was disappointing to 

 find that, while the trout averaged over a pound, the 

 bass had not increased perceptibly in size since the 

 previous year. However, they were transferred to 

 the lake, to take their chance among the pike, where 

 it is more than doubtful if they are ever heard of 

 again. If once they could be established in the 

 water, and if their reputation for voracity is well 

 founded, they may be expected not only to hold 

 their own with pike, but actually to diminish their 

 numbers by devouring the fry. But it must be 

 confessed that their rate of growth half or three- 

 quarters of a pound at five years old is very dis- 

 appointing. 



The annexed plate is reproduced from a painting 

 by Pollard, showing how our forefathers went about 

 the capture of pike in the good old leisurely time. 

 There is a vast deal of unconscious humour in the 

 scene : the elaborate paraphernalia, including a stool 

 for the angler to sit on, the enormous rods, the 

 baskets, bags, and bait-cans, above all, the chimney- 

 pot hats, chokers, and cut-throat collars, seem ludi- 

 crously out of proportion to the undersized jack 



