28 BROADLAND SPORT 



are required, should circumstances and weather be favourable. 

 Although it is difficult to dig them from the soil, there is 

 another plan which at times proves successful. It consists 

 in a simple expedient. Mix a pailful of mustard and 

 water, or weak lime and water, and pour it, with the 

 assistance of a watering-pot with a rose spout, over the 

 lawn or grass where lob worms are known to abound ; 

 such a dressing will often bring them to the surface in a 

 few minutes. 



Having now briefly turned to bobs and how they are 

 made, we will describe the evening's bobbing. 



Some two hours after the sun has sunk to rest, and the 

 mist is covering the reed tops and rising from the marshes, 

 we proceed to the edge of the Broad, where a boat is lying in 

 readiness. The old Suffolk marshman is sitting there in 

 waiting, his short black pipe between his lips, from which he 

 silently draws his peaceful puffs, and rests content with all 

 the world. Our overcoats and other belongings having been 

 taken on board, not forgetting the stone jar and the whisky 

 bottle, we push off from land and punt down a muddy 

 creek en route for the open water. Rowing across the Broad 

 many others may be noticed bent on a similar errand. They, 

 like ourselves, are heading for the river's mouth, which is 

 looked upon as one of the best swims in the neighbourhood 

 for the purpose in question. Before we arrive at the place 

 where it is agreed to make the first attempt, we are en- 

 shrouded in a dense marsh mist, through which it is difficult 

 to find a way, but, with the instinct of his race, the old 

 marshman makes his destination, and, planting two poles 

 firmly in the mud, secures the boat fore and aft in readiness 

 to commence operations. We are moored on the outskirts of 

 a reed bed at the entrance to the river, and notice that down- 

 stream several other boats are already engaged seeking to lure 

 the eels to destruction by the fascinating temptation of a fresh 

 bunch of worms. 



An inquiry from them as to what sport they have had 

 elicits a reply that " the eels are biting freely, though they 



