EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 3 



he repeated several times, but after ten minutes fruitless 

 resistance, the housemaid skilfully got him in the landing net, 

 and he pulled down the scale at I Ib. 9 oz. Another trout was 

 rising above the bridge, and the first throw proved sufficient ; 

 another ten minutes and the housemaid had him safely in the 

 net, and when weighed he was found to be lib. 5oz. Two 

 beauties these were, both for sport and condition; but the 

 evening's sport was not over. The rod had been, for a few 

 moments whilst weighing the last fish, placed upright on the 

 bridge, with the gut cast gently waving in the slight breeze, 

 and on returning it was found that a bat had made for the fly 

 and hooked himself in the wing. He gave lots of play in 

 mid-air, but was eventually landed after taking out some line. 

 After releasing the bat the fly was let drop on to the bridge and 

 whilst there pussy cat, who had been intent upon the proceed- 

 ings, evidently thought the lure which had proved so tempting 

 to the trout and bat must be a dainty morsel for herself. Any- 

 how she forthwith attempted to negotiate the artificial fly with 

 the result that she hooked herself in the top lip, and Mr. 

 Hopper had then the mortification of " playing" poor pussy on 

 land. After a game fight she was landed between the knees 

 and then the unpleasant task of extracting the hook had to be 

 attempted. What with the frantic scratching and biting this 

 was no easy task, and far from a pleasant one as can well be 

 imagined, but at length the hook was withdrawn, and pussy 

 never ventured upon artificial black gnats again. The sight of 

 a fishing rod was sufficient for her for the remainder of her days. 

 The Lud used to yield fine trout ; Mr. Hopper's elder brother 

 who had caught the perch of 3ilbs. before referred to, being 

 also fortunate enough to catch with an artificial fly a fine 

 speckled beauty of 2f Ibs. within five yards of where the other 

 two were brought to bank. Trout of 2lbs. were not at all 

 uncommon in those deep waters of the Lud, and no doubt they 

 would have grown to considerably larger size, but the miller 

 had a happy knack, when there was a nice accumulation of 

 good fish in the dam above his mill, of finding one of the gowts 

 out of order, and thereupon the dam was run off, carrying all 



