EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 55 



was duly conceded. The wind east it was it blew that cutting 

 that Tuesday morning fit to freeze the marrow of one's bones 

 and to tint with the loveliest blue the nasal organs of such as 

 braved its Arctic grip more a day for catching the influenza 

 epidemic than the beautiful speckled trout. However, sharp to 

 time both the Admiral and Mr. Hopper turned up on the 

 platform fully equipped for a day's angling. Now the ordinary 

 return fare to Louth is 2s. 4d., but if the angler pops his fishing 

 rod through the little ticket window and gently tickles the ribs of 

 the ticket clerk, he will politely hand him an angling ticket and 

 only charge is. 6d., thereby saving the angler's pocket to the 

 tune of lod. Now the Admiral was not up to this saving of 

 iod., but prompted by Mr. Hopper he tickled in due form the 

 ribs of the clerk, and so saved his iod. " Just to think, Mr. 

 Hopper," said the Admiral, "What this means ! The saving 

 of that iod. amounts to two fourpenny whiskies and a twopenny 

 wash and brush up, instead of helping to fill the coffers of the 

 railway company." Mr. Hopper did just think, and although 

 not a whisky partaker he quite acquiesced in the Admiral's 

 sentiment. 



The railway journey was soon over, and in a very few 

 minutes the stream side was reached. " The water is a lovely 

 colour," said Mr. Hopper's companion, "and a nice lot of it 

 coming down stream. What a lovely little spot, too quite a 

 miniature ' Dovedale.' " The rods were soon put together and 

 the flies selected, and the Admiral almost at his first throw 

 landed a pretty well-conditioned little fish, which was duly 

 deposited as No. I of the day's sport in his fishing creel. And 

 then both flogged the water without the sign of another fish. Very 

 presently the water came down in considerably greater volume 

 and with a good deal of colour in it, which gave rise to the 

 surmise on the part of both that there must have been heavy 

 rain in the night higher up the stream. Later in the day it was 

 found that this supposition was altogether erroneous. Fly- 

 fishing was now useless, owing to the thickness of the water, so 

 the Admiral quietly said he had come prepared for all condi- 

 tions of water, and had brought a small tin of " London fleas." 



