Fly-Fifhing. 33 



draw nigh here this morning (I hope no offence) 

 to try and fall in with you, for I take you to be 

 the fame gentleman. 



Glericus. I conclude then you belong to the 

 gentle brotherhood ; though your rod and bafket 

 look as if trout and laftfprings would hardly fatisfy 

 you. 



Stranger. Lord love you, fir, what fhould I do 

 without my fifhing-rod ? This noble river there's 

 not an inch of it for miles that I'm not acquainted 

 with, ay, as well as my own little cot on yonder 

 fear ! The gentry about here all know me, and 

 (God blefs them !) they never deny me leave to 

 fifh. This great rod I ufe for pike, hundreds of 

 which I may fay I have taken. Deftru&ive brutes ! 

 though they pay me well enough in fport and pro- 

 fit ; and the more I catch the more will you and 

 the like of you be pleafed. 



Clericus. But you fifti for trout fometimes, don't 

 you ? 



Stranger. Oh ! yes, and falmon too. I have 

 killed falmon not far from this fpot between twenty 

 and thirty pounds weight. 



Clericus. You have ? 



Stranger. Yes, and you could do the fame if 

 you liked. 



D 



