EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 51 



Friend Humber is also very successful in bringing big 

 pike to bank. Last February, within the short space of 

 seven days, he killed two pike not far from Grimsby, weighing 

 respectively i6i and i6f Ibs. both splendid specimens of 

 esox lucius. Did Friend Humber have them set up? No, not 

 exactly ; he has a soul above setting up and putting in a glass 

 case such fry as those 16 pounders. Not until he has 

 circumvented a 20 pounder will our friend of the 'cello have one 

 set up and glass cased ! And then well what then ? Why, 

 then, he will give a solo concert at well, at Grimsby Town 

 Hall, for the benefit of the Hospital, and will also have his 

 20 pounder on view, together with the identical rod, line, and 

 hook (and it is a hook too his own- invention !) with which he 

 makes the capture. Good-bye, friend Humber ; you are very 

 sanguine about that 20 pounder, and in the interests of the 

 Hospital Mr. Hopper hopes you will have one on view this 

 coming winter. 



Friend Brown is also a good pike angler, but then he 

 does not hail from Grimsby ; he is a Trent-sider. He was 

 telling Mr. Hopper this year that some years ago when 

 fishing with a worm on the Trent he hooked a pike at 

 least 3olbs., and played it for goodness knows how long ; 

 brought it alongside to be gaffed any number of times, and 

 after all it broke away from him. Mr. Hopper does not in the 

 least doubt that it was a very large pike, but he took the 

 opportunity of reminding friend Brown that it had grown 5lbs. 

 in weight since he told the same tale to him last year, when it 

 was only 25lbs. Brown was furious, and declared the pike had 

 never been under 3olbs. since he had told the tale of its near 

 capture, but Mr. Hopper's memory is not treacherous or 

 faulty, and by the nine gods, he swears that that pike was 

 only 25lbs. when Brown last year told Mr. Hopper about it. 

 If Brown still persists why coffee at 4 a.m., and pistols for 2. 

 Brown is a good deal wider than Mr. Hopper ; ergo, a better 

 mark. If perchance Mr. Hopper's angling notes should 

 suddenly cease to appear well, his fellow anglers will know 

 that the ruthless Brown is the responsible party. 



