EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. Si 



empty creels, Mr. Hopper was also a fit subject for com- 

 miseration, as he had not been able to circumvent the wariness 

 of a sing-le fish ; but better luck was coming in a day or two. 



The river was very low and clear, and Mr. Hopper con- 

 cluded that " scratching-," having regard to the condition of 

 the water, would prove a more attractive lure for barbel than 

 worms, and accordingly thought a stone and a quarter of the 

 " condiment " in question, which Mr. Hopper had ordered from 

 Nottingham and brought on with him from Crow Park station, 

 was likely to be of considerable service in whetting the 

 appetites of such barbel as were frequenting those reaches of 

 the Trent. Three Nottingham anglers had certainly fished 

 the " Staith " swim all one day with worms, and had succeeded 

 in catching three or four barbel, but 4lb. represented the 

 weight of the largest fish, and Mr. Hopper intended to land 

 something bigger than that. Having ground-baited a good 

 barbel yielding swim in the manner indicated in Mr. Hopper's 

 last chapter, he and Witchdorter repaired, full of confident 

 anticipation, to the swim in question, which seemed to be fairly 

 free from flannel weed, and it was determined to float it 

 Nottingham style. The water was about 13 feet deep and 

 very rapid. The swim was close in shore, along which were 

 large blocks of stone forming the beau ideal of a home for 

 barbel. The swim was at least 150 yards in length, and the 

 boat was moored into position at the top end of the swim in 

 preference to the tail-end. After finding the depth and getting 

 just the quantity of weight on for the float to carry, fishing was 

 at once commenced in earnest. Witchdorter had not floated 

 down more than seven or eight yards of the swim when down 

 went Mr. Hopper's float with a vicious tug and sudden bolt 

 away that at once assured Mr. Hopper he had hold of the right 

 sort this time. Witchdorter quickly reeled in his line so as to 

 give plenty of playing ground. However, after the first run 

 Mr. Barbel proved anything but a tough customer, and he 

 lacked the dash and courage which his species possess in so 

 eminent a degree, and after very few minutes he was safe in the 

 boat. He was a fine fish of quite 5lbs., in good condition, and 



