EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 87 



with a lively sense of satisfaction that Witchdorter's first swim 

 down found him hold of a real good fish, whose play at once 

 showed that it was a carp bream. He was such a big deep 

 bellied fellow that it was all Mr. Hopper could do to get him 

 in the landing net, which is big enough to hold a hat-box, but 

 that was successfully brought about, and on weighing Witch- 

 dorter's capture it pulled down 4lbs. good. That was a tip-top 

 start and hopes ran high at the prospect of a good afternoon's 

 sport, for the swim was alive with thumping big fellows. They 

 kept coming to the surface of the water by scores and lashing 

 their tails in the manner peculiar to bream, but they would 

 have none of the dainty morsels offered them until just upon 

 tea time, when Mr. Hopper landed one of lib. looz. A few 

 eels and flounders had also been caught, but there was no 

 occasion to use the big sack which had been taken in the boat, 

 and which both Mr. Hopper and Witchdorter on the capture 

 of the 4 pounder had fondly pictured would have taxed all 

 their strength to carry up the steep little bit of hill rising 

 immediately from the ferry to the lane leading to the Inn. 

 Tea was quickly disposed of and a most enjoyable row down 

 the river of a little over two miles brought the boat and its 

 occupants once more to " Land o' Cakes " hole. A strong 

 wind was blowing down stream and it required two large stones 

 to prevent the boat from dragging from her moorings, and as it 

 was, a side rope was also put out and lashed to some rushes 

 conveniently growing by the river side. All this had been 

 done very quietly so as not to disturb the swim. The rods 

 were soon over the end of the boat, but nothing responded to 

 the first swim down, notwithstanding the dainty and tempting 

 morsels of scratching for all the world like strips from a white 

 kid glove. " Surly beggars ! " said Witchdorter. " You wait 

 a bit and see, it's only just barbel time," said Mr. Hopper, 

 who had floated about twelve yards of the stream for his 

 second journey down, when " I've got him," said Mr. Hopper, as 

 a real good fish went tearing down the stream with him and 

 taxing all his angling skill. Mr. Hopper had, however, 

 tried his line and tackle well before commencing, as he 



