EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 119 



joskins living in the villages near the streams, and those old 

 poachers, the herons, more than one of the brooks was well- 

 nigh depleted of its ordinary stock of store fish long before the 

 "close" season set in. Mr. Hopper understands that the 

 Laceby and Little Coates stream is well-stocked with fish, and 

 that under the fostering and vigilant care of the syndicate 

 which now controls the stream the trout are both numerous and 

 increasing considerably in size. 



Some fine roach have been captured out of the Louth and 

 Tetney Navigation, but they have been few and far 

 between the largest was about I Ib. 9 oz. but those caught 

 during the season bouncing down the scale at I Ib. could 

 almost be counted on one's fingers. Query : Is the canal 

 netted? Mr. Hopper does not say it is, but where are 

 the big roach which in the ordinary course of things should 

 abound there ? Are there too many fish and too little food for 

 them ? Some suggest that the steam sloop kills the larger fish, 

 but if this were so they would be seen dead at the top of the 

 water. Mr. Hopper had a splendid (?) day lately on the canal 

 at Austen Fen : he sat for four long mortal hours and caught 

 17 fish which weighed I Ib. 5 oz., and, wonderful to relate, the 

 catch was sufficient to capture for Mr. Hopper the second prize 

 in the match for the Constitutional Angling Club's prizes. Mr. 

 Rara Avis (a well-known local angler) won the first prize with 

 2 Ibs. 10 oz., and Twynkles (famous on the Bowling Green) the 

 third with i Ib. 4 oz. Ah! Twynkles, Mr. Hopper beat thee 

 by one ounce, and thou wast an outside man, as also was Mr. 

 Rara Avis and this gives a double chance. In addition to 

 catching 17 small fish, Mr. Hopper also caught a severe cold, 

 as did others who went that day for the filthy lucre. 



And now, in view of a certain well-known Town Councillor 

 being returned at the top of the poll at the forthcoming 

 municipal election for the North-east Ward, let Mr. Hopper 

 remind him there is a strong angling club in that ward, the 

 members of which would feel highly delighted at any recognition 

 he might bestow upon them in the shape of a goodly match 

 cup for competition next year. No idea of bribery or corruption 

 enters Mr. Hopper's thoughts in making this suggestion, but 

 he thinks it as well to add that Mr. Slatter, tobacconist, 

 Freeman-street, is the secretary of the club in question. 



