THE DOCKS AND PRIVATE WATERS 173 



distance, and can consequently be visited without any- 

 serious loss of time or money. All these considerations 

 weigh with the rod-fisher, and naturally induce him to 

 consider these still waters to be a valuable adjunct to the 

 general stock of piscatory recreation. 



A day at the docks, to many a tradesman in London, 

 is what a stag-hunt, or the Derby Day, is to the aristocratic 

 loungers of St James's. The piscatory citizen talks of 

 it for weeks before, and the pleasure from anticipation 

 is doubtless, were we in a state to make a fair com- 

 parison, greater than from actual realisation. But this 

 is something like his usual mode of procedure. He 

 leaves his business for a day, and betakes himself to 

 the New River, or some other spot, to obtain a stock 

 ' of gudgeons for live bait. These he places in a proper 

 vessel for careful preservation. He is very anxious 

 his bait should preserve all their native vitality and 

 sprightliness, and he manifests the most sedulous care 

 to supply them, at regular intervals, with fresh water. 

 When he arrives at his home, he is generally tired and 

 worn out; but still his family must be immediately 

 summoned to look at the finny strangers, ere they take 

 their departure to the wars at an early hour of the 

 morning. The sight is cheering, and full of novelty. 

 The angler pays his gudgeons a visit before he steps 

 into bed, and concludes that the water will keep fresh 

 and invigorating till the appointed hour of rising. His 

 slumbers are broken from the thought of having to rise 

 at such an early hour. He jumps out of bed to see his 

 bait. Perchance some of them seem rather dull and 

 sickly. He tries to procure them another supply of 

 fresh water, but fails. He throws his clothes loosely 

 about him, and off he sets to the street pump in the 

 neighbourhood, and revives the drooping energies of 

 his captives. He starts at three o'clock in a fine June 

 morning, and walks hurriedly to the scene of action at 

 the East or "West India Docks. He gets himself pre- 

 pared, looks at his live gudgeons, which seem pert and 

 lively, and then he throws in his first bait. In a short 

 time he succeeds in killing some perch of great weight, 



