THE JA.CK. 203 



big jack; Very seldom now, except in strictly " private " 

 waters, can a good take of jack be had. And many of 

 these " private " waters are well-nigh worked out, for be 

 it remembered that, according to some law of nature, a 

 certain area of water will only hold a certain number of 

 jack, and that hot a very large number. Tou may soon 

 practically clear of its jack a bit of water, say of from one to 

 twelve acres. 



A rare bit of sport piscatorial is a good day's jack- 

 fishing in " private " and " preserved " water, where Tom, 

 Dick, and Harry cannot " get a day " by merely asking 

 for it, — in some quiet park, almost under the windows of 

 " the big house." I have had a few such days — not many 

 — " to be marked with white chalk." Here is a brief 

 record of one : — 



It boots not to indicate the exact locale, for if mentioned 

 the owner of the water in question would have at least a 

 hundred letters by the next post, begging a day's fishing. 

 It is a greater trouble and more prolific source of inquiries 

 and petitions to be the proprietor of a good bit of fishing 

 than to be the owner of a Derby favourite. Suffice it then 

 to say that the destination of a friend and myself was a 

 fine expanse of water in a gentleman's park " within one 

 hundred miles " of London. Byron described it exactly 

 when limning Lord Henry's home and estate : — 



" Before the mansion lay a lucid lake, 



Broad as transparent, deep, and freshly fed 



By a river, which its soften'd way did take 

 In currents through the calmer water spread 



Around : the wild-fowl nestled in the hrake 

 And sedges, brooding in their liquid bed ; 



The woods sloped downwards to its brink, and stood, 



With their green faces fix'd upon the flood." 



