FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



to say they were dead ones — the more's the pity of 

 it ! They are fairly numerous, however, still, within 

 twenty minutes' walk from my own door. 



Silver-bellied eels are sought for by the long-tailed 

 brown-coated fisher most eagerly ; and where these 

 are in abundance he does well, increasing in size and 

 weight. At one time he could rest in peace, for no 

 one molested him or tried to do him harm : now he 

 hardly dares to put his nose up to vent, if any one is 

 about ; and what is the real reason of this ? Simply 

 the fact that he fetches a few paltry shillings for 

 stuffing purposes. 



As to what he may do in some preserved waters 

 at times, I am not prepared to say. He must come 

 a long distance to get to some of them. The very 

 worst "otters" that ever I knew were nets fixed 

 just above a deep pool when the fish were out feed- 

 ing on the shallows a quarter of a mile above it. 

 The "otters" that worked that net got in above it, 

 and drove the fish down into it. 



So the game goes on. If it was in one's power 

 to prevent it, one would not have any of those brave 

 animals killed. Not that I am prejudiced — at least 

 I hope I am not — but so many innocent creatures 



