126 



over the straits in the vicinity of Tangiers quite as 

 good as you probably enjoyed at home, unless you 

 had the privilege of a well-stocked salmon river or 

 carefully preserved demesne. Although I am certain 

 this garrison is seldom witliout numerous followers 

 of old Izaak Walton, yet I dare bet that few have 

 essayed their art while there — why, I can not say — 

 for although I did constantly, I never met a compan- 

 ion, and more the pity; for fishing (that is, sea-fish- 

 ing) is here to be obtained of the greatest excellence. 

 The New Mole, where vessels obtain their requi- 

 site fuel, used to be a favorite haunt of mine, more 

 j^articularly on those serene, romantic nights peculiar 

 to the Mediterranean, when with my light fly-rod and 

 a small brilliant artificial minnow attached to very 

 light tackle, I used to capture dozens of a beautiful 

 little fish, of the mackerel family, there called horse- 

 mackerel ; true they were not large, seldom exceed- 

 ing nine or ten inches in length, but then they were 

 so game, giving as much sport as a half-pound trout, 

 before you could safely land them on terra firma ; and 

 when fisliing for these resplendent little beauties, you 

 would occasionally hook a monster, when your oidy 

 option was to give him the butt, place a check on your 

 line, and force the weak portion of your tackle to 



