A mortiryine Loss. 63 
the fish alive in the water, parted as we were in the act of 
lifting the fish into the boat, and we lost nearly all of them, 
The same circumstance happened here while angling with 
George Austin, Esq. Such luck is aggravating to a common 
man, but an angler soon learns that effects follow causes. If 
you prefer to keep your mess alive, either tow a fish-car at 
the stern of your row-boat for placing them in, or deposit 
them in a net fastened to a thole-pin, or purchase the new in- 
vention of a string made of raw-hide by Andrew Clerk & Co. 
It is time for us to reel up and count our mess, for we have 
tide enough left to float us to New Brighton, where we hired 
the boat in the morning. Your count says twenty-seven 
fish. Well, that is an average take. We will unjoint our 
rods, place them in their cases, take up anchor, and you may 
light a regalia, while we enjoy the enlivening scenes along 
Kill Van Kull on our row to the landing. This is the be- 
witching time for driving along the cornice road of Staten 
Island; and that couple which you now see in a buggy oppo- 
site us think that driving a fast horse on a dusty road is fa- 
mous sport. See the cavalcade of roadsters stirring up the 
dust! Coaches with liveried drivers and footmen are not 
rare, and the outriders will come next. But we are at New 
Brighton, our fish are basketed, and our boat returned. We 
will now step on board the steam ferry-boat for New York, 
which stops here every fifteen minutes. 
Our sail across the Bay of New York to the Battery, you 
perceive, is a continuation of the enlivening local and aquatic 
views which have blessed our eyes throughout the day. 
We must part now with a shake of the hand. Your steam- 
ship is to leave at noon to-morrow, and the engagements of 
which I spoke to you may prevent me from bidding you bon 
voyage on the deck of the vessel which is to convey you to 
home and happiness in one of the British Isles. May the 
blessings which usually accompany true sportsmen be with 
you; and when thinking of this land of long rivers and broad 
lands, I trust that you will not forget the slight taste of sport 
