EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 99 



hauling line over his shoulder whilst he stowed himself in the 

 stern of the boat puffing his 'baccy, and for want of a rudder 

 directing the boat's course with one of the oars dangling in the 

 water from the stern. But too many memories would be 

 awakened and too many incidents would be recalled if Mr. 

 Hopper permitted himself to linger in retrospect on the days 

 gone by in pleasant companionship with his lamented friend 

 on the old river. No more wonderful floats will be made to 

 excite the curiosity of Trent-siders ; no more will he chaff and 

 bandy jokes with the men on the river steamers and barges, 

 for he is gone ! his lips are silent here below, but surely and 

 truly he sings Above the praises of his Maker. Witchdorter ! 

 valued friend ! these notes close on thy name for ever. 



It is difficult to pass all at once from a mournful subject to 

 one where gloom and sorrow in no sense hold sway, but Mr. 

 Hopper feels assured that his angling friends in Grimsby would 

 like to be informed of a few of his piscatorial doings (exploits 

 has too heroic a sounding, having regard to Mr. Hopper's well- 

 known modesty, to be made use of here) on Trent-side during 

 his annual visit this year. Well ! followers of the gentle craft, 

 " times was bad," as Artemus Ward or some one else says, 

 "and that considerable " for some days, but Mr. Hopper was 

 patient and the good times came occasionally. To begin 

 with, the weather was unsettled and cold, the river higher than 

 usual by some inches, and when it rose 36 inches, as it did one 

 day and night of 24 hours, there was just a bit of floating 

 weed, both top and bottom, coming down, and it took three or 

 four days for that rise of water to go off during those bad 

 days Mr. Hopper only caught three barbel, largest 4ilbs. and 

 smallest 3! Ibs. Of course a few roach, eels, flounders, perch, 

 and dace were caught also, but carp bream held aloof, and 

 although they were " rolling " and " priming " at the top of the 

 water by hundreds, they would ne'er look at any kind of bait. 

 By-the-bye, Mr. Hopper during these first bad days had as a 

 companion the well-known Grimsby angler known as " Bowlin- 

 green Twynkles," whose identity will be apparent to lovers of 

 the 'rod as a prize winner in a recent local angling competition. 



