3i8 BROADLAND SPORT 



we should be obliged if he would kindly state in what way 

 we were annoying him, as we failed to see what sport was 

 possible under the circumstances in which he was placed." 



This polite address failed to elicit any reply except a 

 gruff rejoinder to " hold yer blooming slarver* an' mind yer 

 own business." 



By no means abashed at his rudeness, and our curiosity 

 being thoroughly aroused, we steered the dinghy into the 

 reeds hard by and pressed our would-be adversary to partake 

 of a drink and a cigarette, adding that we were strangers to 

 those parts eager to learn anything appertaining to sport, and 

 if he could be of service we were not averse to pay him well 

 for his information. 



This seemed to ease his mind and he came alongside for 

 the proffered refreshment, which on such a day would require 

 a great tension of forbearance to refuse. 



We noticed he had several very fine tench in the bottom 

 of the punt, a brace and a half of which soon changed hands 

 for the modest sum of one shilling. After the third glass of 

 beer, and when his pipe was well alight, he became more 

 confidential. He had caught them with his hands in other 

 words, he was engaged in the illicit practice of " tench 

 tickling." 



As long as the bottled beer lasted we plied him lavishly 

 with it, and not only did he tell of the secrets of his art, but 

 then and there gave ocular proof by several most successful 

 experiments. This was another example which opened 

 our eyes to the secrets of Broadcraft, and which made 

 us reflect again upon the fact that so little is seen or heard 

 of the really genuine primitive methods, devices and engines 

 that always were, and still are, used by the natives in certain 

 parts of these out-of-the-way regions. 



When a visitor appears upon the scene, how quickly and 

 deftly are all pike-snares, night-lines, trimmers, liggers, nets 

 and other poaching engines stowed away, and the only too- 

 willing marshman (with visions before him of a week's 

 * Conversation Norfolk Dialect, 



