48 A Sportsman at Large 



when climatic conditions are favourable. In forty years 

 my big fellow, whom I know as " Goliath," has grown surely, 

 if exceeding slowly. He must now weigh close on the standard 

 twenty pounds pattern. Year after year I have had a hunch 

 to re-take and examine some of these jokers, but somehow or 

 other I have continually missed my opportunities early in the 

 season ; whilst later on, the whole pond is choked with weeds 

 and you can only just see the great yellow leather mouths and 

 leaden-hued heads of the carp as they suck in air between 

 the fronds. But I will pull one of the devils out yet ! You 

 see if I don't ! 



Some three miles distant from Moat Mount lies the village 

 of Edgware, celebrated for its profusion of pubs. They seem 

 to alternate persistently with the shops or private dwellings, 

 " pub shop, pub cottage, pub office and so forth. I am 

 reminded incidentally of the banquets I used to enjoy in 

 Bosnia, provided in my honour and that of my colleague, 

 as representatives of Great Britain at the great Sporting 

 Congress at Ibidje. Every repast began and ended with 

 beer, with beer between each course and as a topping to 

 each of the various vintages which were handed round. 



At the western end of this same village of Edgware, lies the 

 fine old mansion and estate known as Canon's Park. When I 

 and my cronies were lads, Canon's was in the possession of an 

 aged dame of Scottish descent, Mrs. Begg by name, who, very 

 graciously gave us boys permission to fish in the " Great Lake " 

 and the various ponds in the park. This was a privilege which 

 we thoroughly appreciated, I assure you. It was always an 

 exuberant joy to drive from home to El Dorado. We would 

 pull up at the " Round Pond," which lay nearest the gates, 

 and prepare our rods and tackle, whilst Wilson, our coachman, 

 would drive on to the mansion, to obtain the necessary permit 

 for the day. The owner was punctilious about this, and would 

 never grant general permission ; but I do not remember any 

 occasion on which a refusal was forthcoming ; nevertheless, I 

 can vouch for it that we were always obsessed with needless 

 anxiety until Wilson and the wagonette re-appeared, bearing 

 the good graces of our patroness. Then happy relief would 

 reign supreme and we would set to work with a will. 



