56 ANGLING 



The Admiral enquired if there was any objection to the use of 

 a " London flea " did Mr. Hopper, as the temporary proprietor 

 of the fishing-, object to such a lure? No; Mr. Hopper did 

 not object to the use of a " London flea," which the Admiral 

 in due course mounted, whilst Mr. Hopper bethought him he 

 would try the artificial minnow known as the " Derby killer." 

 Our seafaring friend was right. The " London flea " proved 

 irresistible, whilst spin the minnow as he would Mr. Hopper 

 could not induce a trout to make a rush for what he 

 thought a tempting lure j once and once only did a 

 wary trout emerge from his hiding place under a 

 bridge and give the metal minnow an angry push 

 with his nose turned up with disgust at finding what a base 

 imposition it was, and then turn tail to seek once more his 

 retreat under the bridge. The Admiral's hooks were small, 

 which caused him to miss a lot of fish, but at last he hooked a 

 nicely fed trout, which must have weighed just upon a pound. 

 That fish was a caution come near the landing net it would 

 not. The Admiral chuckled and laughed to such an extent 

 that the vibration was carried down the rod and line to the 

 trout, which so evidently enjoyed (notwithstanding the hook in 

 its mouth) the Admiral's merriment that it positively came 

 several times to the top of the water and deliberately smiled at 

 its would-be captor. "Give him time give him time, Mr. 

 Hopper," said the Admiral, "and let him enjoy himself a little 

 longer." Mr. Hopper did give time any amount of it in fact 

 rather too much, for that jolly trout at last rolled over leisurely 

 on his side, winked with his left eye at the Admiral, flopped the 

 water with his tail, and then why then he parted company 

 with the Admiral. Need it be said that the latter immediately 

 stopped laughing. The Admiral needed consolation, so Mr. 

 Hopper appropriately pointed out that that facetious fish would 

 be there in that same pool when the Admiral next came to 

 angle for it. Our salt water friend adjusted another " London 

 flea" on his tackle, whilst Mr. Hopper persevered with his 

 " Derby killer " (which proved anything but a killer that day), 

 until the mystery of the coloured water was solved. Flowing 



