154 ANGLING 



over to Grimsby at an expense to each of 155. ii^d. and 

 recorded their votes ; they are each still minus that 153. n|d. 

 and also the day's fishing, but they hope to make up for the 

 loss of the latter by again visiting Trent-side during the coming 

 summer and landing barbel and carp bream of stupendous 

 proportions. 



The best and most recent fishing tale which has come under 

 Mr. Hopper's notice is as follows : Six anglers were staying at 

 a quiet fishing inn in a Yorkshire village, and one evening, when 

 enjoying their pipes after their late dinner, one of them, whom 

 we will call Jones, said he would like to fish the trout stream in 

 the Park close by, but there was no chance of doing so as it was 

 so strictly preserved. Smith said he would undertake to fish it 

 next day, and if the keeper came up he would only tip him half- 

 a-crown and have his day's fishing. Jones thereupon, the door 

 connecting the anglers' sitting-room with the bar being slightly 

 ajar, seeing the keeper having a pint at the bar, said to Smith 

 " I'll bet you IDS. you don't " " Done," said Smith. The other 

 four anglers thought that if it was good enough for Jones to 

 have los. on it was good enough for them, so each of them laid 

 Smith los. he could not fish the private water in question and 

 only tip the keeper half-a-crown. Next morning the six anglers 

 sallied forth with their rods and Smith nimbly popped over the 

 Park fence and was soon fishing the private stream in the Park, 

 the other five betaking themselves to public waters. In the 

 evening Smith returned with 10 brace of splendid trout and in 

 reply to the queries of the other five declared that he had caught 

 them all in the private stream in the Park, that the keeper came 

 to him and that it was a fact he had only tipped him half-a- 

 crown. He therefore called upon each of the five to hand over 

 to him IDS. which they did, he thus pocketing 503. 



Jones thought that if it was good enough for Smith to fish the 

 Park water and only tip the keeper 2s. 6d. it must be good 

 enough for him. So early next morning, before the others were 

 awake, he stole away from the hostelry and was soon fishing 

 the Park stream. Presently the keeper appeared and 

 demanded his "permit." "Oh! its all right," said Jones, 



