NETTING. 109 



knew every inch of the stream we rented. By 

 way of impressing on me a due sense of his 

 knowledge, he volunteered the information that 

 he could do the netting much more effectually 

 and at a much smaller cost than the present 

 head keeper. He said that a stop net was quite 

 unnecessary, as every pike rushed up-stream 

 when the net was dragged down. He added 

 that the trammel dragged down behind the flue 

 was absolutely useless. He seemed somewhat 

 staggered when shown from my rough memo- 

 randum book that nearly fifty per cent, of the 

 pike netted were taken by the stop net and 

 trammel. However, he added in a triumphant 

 tone, " They certainly rob you in taking so 

 many days over the work," and suggested that 

 he could net the entire water, ditches, carriers, 

 tributaries, and main stream easily in two days. 



Measured accurately on the large-scale Ordi- 

 nance map, the total length of all the streams 

 to be netted amounted to over eight and a half 

 miles, so that he fancied he could net over four 

 miles per day. As a matter of fact it takes 

 nine or ten full days to net this stretch of water 

 properly and effectually. It is, perhaps, need- 

 less to add, that this sapient rustic did not 

 secure the vacant post. 



Trout are even better at eluding the nets Netting trout, 

 than pike, and when you are told that a water 



