THE GUDGEON. 321 



had been made. But after all why should I object to 

 these demonstrations on the part of lady anglers ? They 

 like to make them. The cavaliers in attendance will not 

 be distressed at them ; and as for our little gobio, I am 

 sure he is only too happy to be taken by fair anglers, for 

 is it not written — 



" Et piscatorem piscis amare potest " ? 



And this leads me to pen a few words of caution on the 

 " Dangers of Gudgeon- Pishing/' to those who attend the 

 lady anglers, and instruct them in the piscatorial art. Of 

 course under certain circumstances there may not be 

 much or indeed any danger at all, as it was in my case 

 when giving a lesson in gudgeon- fishing to the lady at 

 Marlow. The lady happened to be my wife, the mother 

 of six children of all sexes, ages, and sizes, and if we live 

 a little longer we shall celebrate our " silver wedding/' 

 But, as Earl Beaconsfield has portentously observed, 

 " Circumstances alter cases," and I know no more dan- 

 gerous work than to go gudgeon-fishing " with a bevy of 

 fair girls/' unless it be with one, and even she (if this be 

 grammar) under the lynx eyes of a mother, married sister, 

 or fretful, jaundiced chaperon. Many a heart has been irre- 

 trievably lost when gudgeon-fishing. Water seems a special 

 conductor of the gentle, and often ungentle, passion, 

 whether it be yachting, boating, a river picnic, or fishing, 

 which "brings the young people together." Fishing, and 

 especially gudgeon-fishing, is replete with danger, so 

 many are the opportunities it affords of little attentions 

 and graceful acknowledgments. It is almost hopeless to 

 try and resist the concomitant influences. The "stars in 

 their courses " are against you or with you, just as you 



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