SOME MORE PECULIAR ANGLING EXPERIENCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 21

SOME MORE PECULIAR ANGLING EXPERIENCES.

CATCHING TIKE BY STEAM. •■' There are various ways of catching pike, and maDy remarkably big fellows are to be found in the Norfolk Broads, some over 201b in weight. The following incident happened whilst we (a party of four) were recently on the broads. We had a very small steam launch, and were cruising about towards evening time, when one of our party got his pike line and spinning biit ready, and proposed to have a try for a fish in a novel way.

He tied his line to the handle of the steam whistle, threw the end of the lino and spinner overboard, and the launch was sent half speed ahead.

We had not gone three parts of a mile before there was a shrill whistle. The launch at once stopped, and my friend commenced to play a large fish. Sure enough, after 12 minutes, a splendid pike, weighing over 111b, was got in the net.

On a subsequent occasion two more pike were captured in this way. I thought such experience in pike-fishing most unique — though, after all, it is only " spinning by steam."

he'll have a bite some day.

Laßt summer, while out for a day amongst the roach of the River Wifcham, I came across one of the swarms of Sheffield rodstera who yearly fish the river.

After an exchange of compliments I inquired of one, " Have you caught anything ? " "No," said he, and continued in mild surprise at my exclamation about "bad luck," "but I only came on Saturday ! " As this was Tuesday, his equanimity reminded me of the man who fished for a day in the boiler to acquire the necessary stock of patience before going out to the riverside.

HOW HE CAUGHT A WIFE,

It was a beautiful autumn evening, and the finny inhabitants of that picturesque river, the Barrow, were apparently vying as to which could consume the greatest number of brown rails which were lazily sailing along its surface.

My father, who usually accompanied me on these expeditions and who was more than handy with tho landing net, on this occasion asked a gentleman to form a trio, a»d the lattere having 4jo piscatorial ta9te whatever, consented, in his own words, •• for the fun of the thing."

Having rigged up my rod, I playfully asked the novice to try a few casts. Judge of our combined astonishment and horror to find that hiß third essay had hooked an exceedingly pretty fish in the shape of a young lady of some 19 summers who was quietly sauntering along the bank.

Apologies and blushes followed in rapid succession.

Three years later, when I had quite forgotten this incident, I met my friend again, who invited me to his house, as he laughingly put it, "just to introduce you to the fish I caught that evening." She had become his wife !