124 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 
fresh fish—so fresh, indeed, that the life has not 
yet gone out of it. 
It is a perfectly easy matter to poach fish, but 
the difficulty lies in conveying them into the 
towns and villages. The poacher never knows 
but that he may meet some county constable 
along the unfrequented country roads, and con- 
sequently never carries his game with him. This 
he secretes in stacks, and ricks, and disused farm 
buildings, until such times as they may be safely 
sent for. Country carriers, early morning milk- 
carts, and women are all employed in getting the 
fish into town. In this the women are most suc- 
cessful. Sometimes they may be seen labouring 
under a heavy load carried in a sack, with faggots 
and rotten sticks protruding from the mouth; or, 
again, with a large basket innocently covered 
with crisp green cresses, which effectually hide 
the bright, silvery fish beneath. 
The methods of the fish-poacher are many, 
The chances of success, too, are greatly in his 
favour, for he works silently and always in the 
night. He walks abroad much during the day, 
and makes mental notes of men and fish. He 
knows the beats of the watchers, and has the 
waterside, as it were, by heart. He can work in 
the dark as well as in the light, and this is 
essential to his silent trade. 
