Morning journal and courier., 1882-11-20
sport n an Enapttesl Fond.


 By this time the ditch through the middle was extending fast, the water pouring off, and the landng-net at work stopping fish like shoals of sprats from going towards the wire prot ected drain, and these were scooped out, placed in buckets, and from thence car ried to the tubs. The men worked furiously evidently as delighted with the task as so many school boys, though extremely careful about getting in the mud. But we soon changed all that, for the water was now low enough for the great carp to be reached. and the sn alier fry of roach and Dream were left for the pr esent, while the men laid down blanks upon the mud, and approached the holes beneath the willows, where it was kno wn that the carp now lay. "Take care" Don't hurt them!' "Scoop 'em out wi the trug.'' Order after order, as the wooden buckets were handled one was plunged in ter of pailful of liquid mud. No calm se- dateness now. The monarchs of the pond had felt their latent majesty touched, and there was tremendous spiashing and plung ing the man who had scooped out the great fish was spattered with mud from head to foot there was plunge, and the carp was gone. The mud was forgotten now in the excitement, as fresh efforts were made; the carp were scooped out and held down by main force as they gave displays of their tre- mendous muse 4lar power, and were passed up the side-great golden fellows, thick, short, and fat, clothed in scale armor that seemed to be composed of well-worn half sovereigns, and panting and gaping with sur prise as they were safely landed. Shouts and laughter greeted each capture of the great fellows, only ono of which was as small as two pounds weight, the others running from three to five, and exhibiting power that was marvellous in creatures of the size. Sometimes Q grsat fellow eluded capture again and again, gl ding between the hands, leaping out of the basket, and making fu- rious efforts to escape. only to be caught again till the last was secured, and attention turned to the cells. This proved task, indeed. The mud was entirely forgotten now, and as the big landing-net was brought into use, and the great fellows that glided over the
 mud like serpents were chased, they showed that they could travel tail first as fast as head first, and with the greatest ease. The land
 ing net was held before them, and efforts made to drive them in, it was only for them to glide out more quickly. Hands were use- less, shovels impotent, and the chase grew exciting in the extreme, as the men plunged In their bare arms up to the shoul der, and drew them from the mud again, looking as if they had gone in, like Mrs. Boffin, for fashion, and were wearing twen- ty four button gloves of a gloomy hue. But ] 1.-the and strong as they were, the cells had to succumb, great two and three pound fellows, and were safely thrown out on the grass !; the last of the small fish was secured, the WnOls OI tuo WALer uEalneU OH, duu uOLnInB remained but three feet of thick mud remain ed. Nothing! Nothing but the eels that had dived in like worms. These were now ! attacked The mud was stirred with poles shovels till the lurking place of one was found, when, after long fight, he would be secured, twisting, twining, and fighting for | liberty needing delicate handling too, for these monsters of the pond bite hard and sharp. Deep down in the mud some forced | themselves, but many were dug out and l thrown or driven into places where they ! could be secured and at last, wet, muddy
 and weary, the owner cried "Quantuff suff, , l beer for the second time was passed round
 and the empty pond was left in peace til
 daybreak next morning, when the remaining I ess were found to have come to the surface
 and were caught in the pools, where little ! water had drained.