136 ANGLING 



with faces somewhat longer than they were in the morning. 

 Mr. Hopper could not put forward any more plausible excuse 

 for the failure to catch some " pluggers " than that the river 

 was very low and clear, and that the 1897 season was generally 

 in most quarters a late one with fish, and in addition to that 

 the visit to Trentside this year was about three weeks in 

 advance of the period at which he made his annual visit last 

 year. However, all were hopeful for the morrow, as it was 

 intended to fish the bream swim, where some years ago Mr. 

 Hopper, with his own rod, landed 20 carp bream in three-and- 

 a-half hours, weighing 5olbs. In the same time poor old 

 Witchdorter and Brown (both now gone to their rest) caught 

 4olbs., so that the boat bottom was pretty well filled with golbs. 

 weight of fish on arrival at the Ferry. Mr. Hopper, junr., 

 was somewhat mirthful at the expense of Mr. Hopper's dignity 

 at the lack of sport, and wound up the day when George and 

 Mazawattee were lighting their candles preparatory to seeking 

 their virtuous couches by saying, " Oh ! yes ; you'll catch fish 

 to-morrow, no doubt about it, we always catch plenty of fish 

 here, at least sometimes." This last word made George and 

 Mazawattee look somewhat querulous, but Mr. Hopper put on 

 a confident air as to the morrow's results, and so temporarily 

 allayed their angling fears. 



