xiv A SUBURBAN FISHERY 241 



the reader might think a soul was offered, 

 so to speak, for a mess of pottage. 



Then, again, there are trout in several 

 streams quite close to London ; there are 

 trout in our suburban fishery, quite a 

 number of them. But even those of us 

 who are fondest of our stretch of river do 

 not call it trout-fishing. We merely admit, 

 on being pressed, that there are trout in it. 

 We even admit that they are sometimes to 

 be caught, but we are reticent as to the 

 manner of the catching. 



And yet it is hard to see why we should 

 be, for our trout are highly civilised and 

 seen in all arts and cunning, as is but natural 

 when you reflect that they live within fifteen 

 miles of the Marble Arch, know what a 

 London fog looks like, and have recently 

 made the acquaintance of the electric tram- 

 car. Fish living thus in the heart of things 

 must not be placed in the same category as 

 the spotted rustics of Devonshire or Wales, 

 nor are they to be beguiled with rustic lures. 

 Let our keeper, who is quite without shame, 

 put the matter baldly and plainly for the 

 reader's enlightenment. " You take my 

 advice, sir/' he says, " and give 'em some- 



R 



