EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES 57 



down a small brook which emptied itself into the main stream 

 (which above its junction with the small brook was as clear as 

 crystal) came dirty greasy-looking water direct from a large 

 sheep wash, which Mr. Hopper had forgotten the existence of. 

 Nothing turns trout so sick as water of this kind, and they will 

 not look at any bait unless it is a nice " London flea " dropped 

 right under their noses. Having fathomed the cause of the 

 discoloured water, Mr. Hopper forthwith discarded his minnow 

 and tempted fortune with a nice looking "flea," and soon 

 landed a nice trout. It was near the end of the day at least 

 that part of the day which is suitable for fishing so having 

 broken the ice with one trout, and so saved his angling reputa- 

 tion, Mr. Hopper took to pieces his rod, in which example he 

 was shortly followed by the Admiral, and made tracks for the 

 town where they had previously arranged to refresh the inner 

 man. The Admiral had in his creel 4! brace of trout in fair 

 condition, considering the severe winter and the backwardness 

 of the spring season. 



Now, fellow anglers, what is a " London flea " ? Mr. Hopper 

 is so far willing to confide in you as being trustworthy recipients 

 of angling secrets as to say that it namely, the aforesaid 

 insect has neither legs nor wings; it has a tail and a head 

 and eyes, but it cannot jump ; it is never found in blankets or 

 any kind of flannel, nor yet in dogs or cats and it does not 

 fatten on the blood of innocent babes or more mature but 

 withal tender skinned beings of the human race ; it is not a 

 " Norfolk Howard," nor in any way allied thereto. Well, what 

 is it ? Don't tell anybody it is a " London flea." Even 

 Scotchmen call it by that name. 



Need it be added that the Admiral was delighted with his 

 day's outing, and so was Mr. Hopper, except that he was 

 nearly three days in bed with racking pains in the back and 

 head. However, " all's well that ends well," and he is looking 

 forward to another day's trout fishing with the Admiral very 

 shortly. Before we part from our worthy friend the Admiral, 

 it is only right on Mr. Hopper's part to give his angling 

 readers a fishing story of the Admiral's a real true one and 



