EXPERIENCES & REMINISCENCES. 153 



Mr. Hopper, accompanied by McNab, paid his annual visit 

 to the Trent-side for his vacation holiday at the end of July 

 and beginning of August last year. Barbel up to 4^1bs. and 

 5lbs. each fell to their rods, and at Dunham Dubbs one 

 morning about 4olbs. of carp bream were captured in 28 feet of 

 water, the largest in size running 3^1bs. and 4lbs. each. One 

 morning before breakfast, when trying a newly-found swim 

 McNab was broken four times by big barbel and he arrived 

 home at the hostelry in a most disconsolate state. Roach and 

 chub were dead off during the Trent-side visit, only a few of 

 each being caught, the largest chub 2|lbs., falling to Mr. 

 Hopper, but a lot of fine eels, flounders, and dace were caught. 



Mr. Hopper discovered that McNab was a pious fraud. 

 Mr. Hopper generally attends the church of the village where 

 he stays, the parson being a most excellent preacher, but for 

 some reason McNab wished to go over the river and attend the 

 church there. Mr. Hopper is usually in an accommodating 

 mood with his angling mates so acceded to McNab's request. 

 On arrival at the church it was found that the over-river parson 

 was too ill to preach a sermon, and it occurred to Mr. Hopper 

 that the reason of McNab selecting that particular church was 

 due to his liking a short service, but nothing of the sort the 

 parson had two pretty daughters whom McNab had espied 

 boating on the river the previous week, and Mr. Hopper had 

 his devotional spirit much shocked at discovering McNab 

 during the singing of a hymn doing some wireless telegraphy 

 with the younger, and of course the prettier, daughter. Mr. 

 Hopper does not usually " snidge " on his angling mates except 

 in the matter of Cardigan jackets, but McNab's conduct in the 

 matter of the parson's daughter must be subjected to the ordeal 

 of being made public. Mr. Hopper thinks that all proper- 

 minded people will agree with him that McNab fully justified 

 the title of a " pious fraud." 



The Parliamentary bye-election occurred at Grimsby whilst 

 McNab and Mr. Hopper were at Trent-side, and in response 

 to an urgent "whip " they rose at six on the day of the election 

 and abandoned their fishing pursuits for the day and came 



