74 ANGLING 



duly stowed away in the dogcart, Mr. Hopper and Mr. 

 Stokwotcher were soon on their way to the " Brownlow Arms," 

 which stands within 150 yards of the river, the latter being four 

 miles from the station. Haythorpe was soon passed, and Mr. 

 Hopper noticed that the wheat and barley were almost ready for 

 the reaper, being much more advanced than on the Lincolnshire 

 Wolds. 



Normanton was soon afterwards passed by, and a 2/lb. 

 halibut (fresh from Grimsby pontoon that morning) -having 

 been placed in the charge of friend Brown's musical son, 

 who was awaiting our arrival at the cross-roads, we shortly 

 arrived at Marnham village, and left it behind in the direction 

 of the Ferry. Marnham Hall and park were then passed by, 

 the latter containing the finest walnut trees (and what a crop 

 of fruit they had this year !) Mr. Hopper has ever seen, and 

 also a grand old mulberry tree, and in a very few minutes we 

 were at the " Brownlow Arms," and Mrs. and Miss Mary 

 Stokwotcher were at the top of the steps to welcome Mr. 

 Hopper once more to Trent side and inform him that 

 "dinner was quite ready." Mr. Hopper had to dine alone, 

 as Witchdorter could not get away until the Monday 

 following, but although he would have liked , his old angling 

 companion 'by him at the dinner table, neither his appetite, 

 digestion, nor spirits suffered by reason thereof, and having put 

 himself into his angling costume, Mr. Hopper was soon by the 

 river side on his way to the " Staith " swim, with his light roach 

 rod and other fishing requisites. The river was very low and 

 clear, and very full of that bugbear of anglers flannel weed 

 (Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Helterton, flannel weed), and Mr. Hopper 

 surmised as he trudged along the bank that sport would not be 

 particularly good this year. How far this conjecture was borne 

 out these notes will in due course state. Arrived at the 

 " Staith," Mr. Hopper decided upon leaving the big fish alone 

 until the shades of evening came on and friend Brown put 

 in an appearance, and having thrown some ground bait in the 

 swim, rod and tackle were soon adjusted, and almost the first 

 swim down a good-sized roach had the temerity to satisfy an 

 enquiring mind or appetite and was duly conveyed into the 



