PIKE AND PIKE FISHING 331 



he was eager to try his luck therein whilst we preferred 

 spinning round the bays. 



Knowing there were two boats upon the broad we had 

 brought a couple of bait cans so the dace and roach could 

 be divided between us, and we could fish at our pleasure 

 without disturbing one another by constant calls for 

 requisites. 



The first bay we tried had been disturbed by a bunch 

 of mallard and teal, numbering twenty-six in all, which rose 

 at our approach, and although we tried a cast or two we 

 could hardly expect to get a rise. 



In the next bay we were not more fortunate, a large 

 dog otter disappearing before us on our rounding the point 

 of the reeds, and we knew from former experience that it 

 was little use fishing in his wake. So we turned the bow 

 of the punt and rowed towards the northern shore, passing 

 Hubert on the way, sitting contentedly over the hole which 

 he had successfully managed to locate and in which a lively 

 roach, deftly suspended from a patent invisible trace, was 

 now vainly endeavouring to free itself. 



Away to the right lay a quiet, secluded bay with trees 

 and rushes growing round its shores in wild profusion. It 

 was out of the wind and the foliage was reflected on its 

 surface with mirror-like exactness. It looked just the place 

 for a small Jack, and without disturbing the water we 

 carefully curled our line upon the bottom boards, and casting 

 the bait well into the edge of the rushes, so that it alighted 

 upon the water with little splash, commenced to work it 

 gently inwards. Before two yards of the line had been 

 recovered there was a mighty swirl in the placid waters 

 and the reel hummed in a manner which did the heart 

 good. 



We looked round to see whether our luck had attracted 

 Hubert's attention, and were only too delighted to see him 

 standing up in his boat giving the butt of his rod to a 

 fish which bent it almost double. 



Although our Jack had gone off with such a rush it was 



