io8 ANGLING 



each with a hook in his jaw and gut tackle depending therefrom, 

 would have in the way of alarming the other barbel in the swim 

 was uncertain, but Mr. Hopper came to the conclusion that any- 

 how such a display of bridles down below would not be encourag- 

 ing to the other denizens of the swim. Presently Billyboy landed 

 a nice barbel of 3slbs., and yet twice again was broken, Mr. 

 Hopper meanwhile not having had even a "touch." Some- 

 thing was evidently wrong in the State of Denmark, so Mr. 

 Hopper reeled in his line and took all the shot off his gut .trace. 

 This proved effectual almost immediately, as Mr. Hopper had 

 a tremendous " knock," and, striking, found he was into a good 

 fish, which after about 10 minutes play he brought over the 

 capacious net held ready by Billyboy and with a sharp lift he 

 had the fish in it. But, lo and behold ! Mr. Barbel made a 

 sudden lurch, and the net being old and a good deal worn, he 

 broke and went clean through the meshes. Having regained 

 his native element he put Mr. Hopper in a fine fix, as he had to 

 play and " kill " him with the line through the broken meshes 

 of the net. However, in a minute or so, owing to Billyboy's 

 skilful manipulation of the net, Mr. Hopper was able to bring 

 his fish to the side of the boat, and all the fight being gone out 

 of him Billyboy seized him across the gills and hauled him into 

 the boat. Weight, 4llbs. The shades of evening were now 

 fast coming on, but before putting up rods for the night Billy- 

 boy and Mr. Hopper landed four more barbel ; weights 3lbs., 

 4lbs., 5lbs., and 3ilbs. in all six barbel weighing in the 

 aggregate 23ilbs., or an average of nearly 4lbs. per fish. This 

 was not so bad for the evening immediately following the 

 previous day's baiting. 



Friend Brown being duly informed of the catch, he arranged 

 to give Mr. Hopper a call next day at 4 a.m. This was good- 

 natured of Brown, as he lived quite two miles away. Brown 

 was punctual, and Mr. Hopper being ready when he put in an 

 appearance they, after a rum-and-milk each, had soon traversed 

 the mile-and-a-half to the willow bushes at Fledborough Dike 

 end, where the boat had been left safely moored the night pre- 

 viously. Ten minutes' rowing brought them to the swim, but 



