46 



fisbing with ; here it is, and the price is two shillings." "Tes," 

 replied the gent, " it appears to be something like the one you 

 are fishing with; I will buy it, and the next time I come 

 fishing I will try it ; here is your money, and I bid you good 

 day." In about a week after I went to fish in the same place, 

 and just before I got there I met the gentleman to whom I 

 had sold the line, who saluted me in the following style : "Halloo, 

 fisherman, that line I had of you was good for nothing, it was 

 as rotten as a bit of cotton. I went the other day and hooked 

 foHir or five good fish, and each and aU of them broke the line, 

 and ran away with float and tackle as well. Now mark, if you 

 don't find me another line, or return to me the two shiUinga, 

 which I gave you, I shall consider that you haVe picked my 

 pocket." I replied, "No, Sir, I shall not return your money, 

 neither shall I find you another line, untU I see which is to 

 blame, you or the line. Gk> and fetch your fishing tackle and 

 come along with me, and let me see how you broke this Une." 

 He did so, and we went on together. '' Now, fisherman," he 

 said, " you take the rod, and I warrant you will be convinced 

 in less than five minutes that the line is the worst you ever 

 fished with."' I did so, and the first fish I hooked was three 

 pounds; I killed him, making the remark, "that has not broke 

 it." I hooked another and killed him, and made the same re- 

 mark, and so on with five or six, making the same observation 

 as to the line not breaking after the capture of each. " Now, 

 Sir," I said, "it is your tui-n. Take the rod and let me see 

 how the fish break it in your hands." He did so, and hooked a 

 fish the first swim, which would certainly have broken the line 

 in a moment had I not snatched his hand from the reel, saying, 

 " I shall not allow that, you must let the line go when he wants 

 to run, or else something is sure break. I find you have been 

 trying your strength with the fish ; you fancied you could pull 

 quite as hard as the fish, and of course smash went the line ; 

 then you come to me and say it was a bad, rotten line, and call 

 me a pickpocket. He went on angling and killed four or five 

 good fish as well as any man could, without in the ieast strain- 



