54 Fly-Fifhing. 



no doubt, the ftory of the poor fwan that was taken 

 out of the water he had long been the ornament of, 

 with a huge pike hanging dead from his neck ? 

 No ! Well, it feems the fwan was thrufting his 

 long neck into the water as ufual, when a pike e- 

 pying fomething that looked inviting, made a fud- 

 den rufh at the fwan's head and fwallowed it. It 

 is fuppofed that the pike was fuffocated in endea- 

 vouring in vain to get the fwan's head either up or 

 down. At any rate, when the bird was taken up, 

 there hung the dead pike, as I faid before. 



Clericus. I have read of a pike of the enormous 

 weight of fifty pounds, that was taken many years 

 ago out of the late Duke of Newcaftle's lake at 

 Clumber; and that a carp no lefs than fourteen 

 pounds was found fticking in his throat ; in en- 

 deavouring to fwallow which it is fuppofed the 

 gigantic glutton met his own death. I fhould be 

 forry to bathe in water frequented by fuch a mon- 

 fter. 



Old Soldier. I could tell you fome amufmg 

 anecdotes of thefe fifh, but the evening is draw- 

 ing in apace, and you'll be thinking of return- 

 ing home. 



Clericus. Well, I am much obliged to you for 

 the lefTon you have given me, but I muft tell you 



