EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 19 



but landed in the boat in our midst, as it was it hit its nose with 

 great force on the stem of the boat and caused it to shake again. 

 Bobbingmoon was thrown into a great state of excitement, 

 whilst Witchdorter, more impassive and practical, simply 

 deplored the fact that the fish had not landed itself into the 

 boat so that we could at our next meal have partaken of a 

 succulent steak from its massive back. Bobbingmoon was not 

 to be quieted. He was salmon mad. Bream, barbel, and all 

 other Trent fish at once sunk into utter insignificance, and he 

 was not to be pacified until he had a real Trent salmon 

 in play. What a splendid opportunity now presented itself ! 

 Whilst Bobbingmoon was still at fever heat the salmon 

 netters were observed just drawing the pool in the reach above 

 us in fact they were just drawing the nets to the side and from 

 the splashing in the water it was clear that they had a fair- 

 sized fish in the meshes. Bobbingmoon was determined to buy 

 the fish, so he was put ashore (not quite in the same way as 

 Witchdorter had manipulated friend Brown to the bank side) 

 and hastened to bargain for the fish whilst still alive so that he 

 might put it on his hook and have some real salmon play. It 

 has already been explained that Bobbingmoon is ponderous 

 and not fleet of foot, and there was no bull at hand to hasten 

 his movements, and though he gesticulated wildly to attract the 

 attention of the netters he failed to gain their ear, and just as 

 he got within hailing distance the mallet descended on poor 

 salmo's head, and, as he arrived on the scene, it lay quivering 

 in its last struggles on the bank, so Bobbingmoon was robbed 

 of the sport he had so much at heart. Crestfallen, disappointed, 

 and out of breath Bobbingmoon returned to the boat declaring 

 that he would have given iSs. (which represented the price of 

 the fish at is. per Ib.) for the privilege of returning it to the 

 water with his hook securely fixed in his jaw. Witchdorter 

 pointed out to Bobbingmoon that i8s. was a lot of money to 

 pay tor putting a. fish on the hook and playing it at the risk of 

 losing it, and he also read Bobbingmoon a moral lecture on the 

 enormity of playing a salmon when he had no licence to angle 

 for that fish, and he also threatened that had Bobbingmoon 



