66 ANGLING 



when the same pool was being fished by Helterton, the afore- 

 said " old lady" and Mr. Hopper, the former again on having 

 a bite brought almost to the surface the same huge mass of 

 weed with tackle, float, and flounder still entangled therein 

 but the flounder was defunct (the " old lady " says that's a real 

 good word a regular whopper). Before Mr. Hopper could 

 get the landing net the weed became disengaged from 

 Helterton's hook, and the weed, tackle, float, and flounder 

 slowly descended to the bed (bed is a better word than bottom) 

 of the river, the water there being just upon 20 feet deep. It 

 was considered by all an extraordinary occurrence that in so 

 large and so deep a pool the float, &c., should twice, after being 

 lost, be hooked up again and so nearly recaptured. 



But further surprise and excitement were in store, for about 

 two hours later in the day Helterton had a bite and after 

 " striking " he again brought to the surface the same mass of 

 weed with the float still entangled therein, but the defunct 

 flounder had disappeared and in place thereof was a fine eel 

 attached to Helterton's hook. Just as the net was being got 

 ready to land the whole lot the Commodore's line gave way 

 under the tremendous strain to which it was subjected, and 

 weed, float, tackle, and eel slowly disappeared from sight. 

 The fishing was proceeded with, and after another hour had 

 elapsed Mr. Hopper's hook brought up the weed, float, and 

 Helterton's eel, and this time the whole lot was successfully 

 landed into the boat. It is an extraordinary circumstance to 

 have recaptured the float at all, but when the size of the pool 

 being fished, with quick and eddying currents in it, is taken 

 into consideration it is all the more to be wondered at. If Mr. 

 Hopper were not proof against spirits he would believe that 

 pool was bewitched, and that some watery imp was time upon 

 time having a lark with Mr. Hopper and his friends by 

 fastening on their hooks that identical mass of weed. " All's 

 well that ends well," and it is needless to add that the Com- 

 modore was overjoyed at the re-capture of his float, which it is 

 hoped will do yeoman service on next year's visit. 



