EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 27 



scale at 61bs., and right well he played it. Any others, Mr. 

 Hopper ? Oh, yes. Another S^lbs., and lots of others from 3 to 

 4lbs. in weight, and smashed times and times again. One beauty, 

 perfect in shape and condition, weight sllbs., succumbed in a 

 sharp current, six feet deep, to the gentle. Quill float, fishing 

 with very fine tackle and small roach hook, and rod of five 

 pieces, only Soz. in weight, brought about the death of this nice 

 fish whilst fishing for dace, and he required very delicate 

 handling of twenty minutes duration before he was safely in 

 the landing-net. For the first fifteen minutes he was never 

 nearer than twenty yards, so gallantly and bravely did he fight, 

 but his powers of endurance then gradually gave way, and, 

 giving him plenty of butt, in five minutes more he threw up the 

 sponge. This pretty specimen, along with the six-pounder 

 already mentioned, and another of slbs., was brought home 

 alive in a fish trunk to be placed in the Cleethorpes Aquarium, 

 but unfortunately, owing to being so knocked about by the 

 motion of the railway van, and the inability to procure change 

 of water during the journey, all three fish succumbed the same 

 evening of their arrival at the Aquarium. Mr. Hopper has 

 heard, but he cannot state it as a fact, that the six-pounder has 

 been stuffed and set up, and is or will be on view at the 

 Aquarium. It should be mentioned that one of these fish had 

 been caught on the Monday and the other two on the Tuesday 

 previous to the Saturday on which they were brought home, 

 and having been kept alive in the Trent in a fish trunk with 

 perforated holes, they were probably not so heavy on arrival, 

 or so full of vitality, as when caught. Many Grimsby 

 anglers have probably never seen a barbel, so if they visit 

 the Aquarium for the purpose, they must please take note of his 

 enormous tail, his short but powerful dorsal and anal fins, and 

 they will then appreciate the enormous leverage they give him 

 in the water and powers of resistance to the angler's skill and 

 tackle. 



Three years ago Mr. Hopper baited a swim with 

 cheese, and with his nephew, a lanky lad of 6ft. I in., got up 

 the next morning at four o'clock to fish it. On arrival at 



