154 ON SURREY HILLS. 



about 6 feet long, split into a fork at the top, and 

 bound below the split with a wax end. A small 

 twig lashed on to each end of the fork formed a 

 run for the line, which consisted of thin water-cord, 

 terminated by a gimp-hook. The other portion of 

 the line that ran from the fork was coiled round the 

 angler's hand — the one which held the rod. After 

 the gudgeon had been hooked on just below the 

 back fin — the bait-kettle of the whole party was a 

 large flower-pot — it would be dropped on the top 

 of the splash-boards. Down it wriggled in the run 

 of the water into the pool below, where large mouths 

 were ready for it. They did not use a float of any 

 kind, considering it best for the bait to run free. 

 Before many moments elapsed you would hear one 

 or another of the company bidding his neighbour 

 move a bit, to let him pass and land his fish. 

 There was a good-tempered comradeship among 

 those rustic anglers that is somewhat unusual, I 

 fancy, among the so - called more polite classes. 

 After a little the pike would leave off" feeding in 

 the sudden abrupt fashion which is their way. 



This was the only method of capture pursued at 

 the causeway of the old mill. Those pike had al- 



