EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 75 



meshes of the landing net and brought to bank, there to ponder 

 over his rashness. His ever watchful and aggressive enemy 

 was soon on the bank panting by his side, for a pike just upon 

 a foot and a half long was also seized with an insatiable 

 curiosity to discover what that beautiful little white mass of 

 gentles was which he saw creeping slowly down the current just 

 clear of the ground. He fought strongly and bravely, as he 

 might be expected to do with only a small roach hook in his 

 jaws, and the finest of gut and line and a 9 ounce rod to battle 

 against. So bravely did he hold out that Mr. Hopper for some 

 little time was under the impression he had a carp bream on, but 

 giving him a bit of the butt of the rod he soon showed on the 

 surface of the water, and the landing net was under him in a 

 " jiffy," and he ended his life on terra firma instead of his 

 native element, and was next day partaken of with much relish 

 by Charley Cobb, the garthman. Next followed another good 

 roach between \ and f lb., and then the finny tribe knocked off 

 altogether, which example was soon followed by Mr. Hopper, 

 who betook himself to the inn to write his budget to Mrs. 

 Hopper and other friends announcing his safe arrival at his 

 destination. 



Friend Brown having arrived about half-past 5, after a 

 sumptuous repast upon the halibut, with which he appears to 

 have regaled the remainder of the inhabitants in his village, 

 a move was made to a well-known barbel swim which Brown 

 had kindly ground baited over night. This year, whilst being 

 hauled up river to the said swim, Mr. Hopper kept his eye 

 open and the boat well out in the river, so there was no 

 grounding as was the case last year, when Mr. Hopper's portly, 

 not to say corpulent friend, had to take to the water to get the 

 boat afloat, and then undergo a thorough rolling on the bank 

 to rid himself of the Trent mud which had stuck to him. (N.B. 

 The grass had nearly recovered itself where friend Brown 

 rolled himself last year), and the swim being reached the boat 

 was safely put in position some 15 or 20 yards above the tail 

 end of the swim, and piscatorial operations were commenced 

 as. soon as the rods were put together. It was decided to 



