_A._ One hates his books and the other baits his hooks. * * * * * ENTHUSIASTIC.--That indefatigable angler, Trollinson, never forgets his craft. Even in writing to you, he is sure to drop a line. * * * * * [Illustration: Catching min'nose on the bridge] * * * * * [Illustration: First instance of the cure of soles (_Vide_ Life of St. Anthony)] * * * * * [Illustration: SUPERB _Podgson (a recently joined disciple of the gentle craft)._ "Ah, now I flatter myself that I played that fellow with considerable skill, and landed him without the net, too!"] * * * * * [Illustration: "I'll punch your 'ead, directly, if you don't leave orff. How do yer think the what's-a-names 'll bite, if you keep on a splashin' like that?"] * * * * * AN ORIGINAL CORNER MAN.--_The Complete Angler._ * * * * * A BROTHER OF THE ANGLE.--A fellow mathematician. * * * * * When is a fisherman like a Hindoo? When he loses his cast. * * * * * [Illustration: _Irate Landowner_ (_to Angler_). "Hi, you, sir! This is _my_ water. You can't fish here." _Angler._ "Oh, all right. Whose is that water up there round the bend?" _Irate Landowner._ "Don't know: not mine. But this is." _Angler._ "Very well. I'll wait till that flows down here!"] * * * * * [Illustration: "MANY A SLIP."--_Boisterous Friend_ (_bursting suddenly through the shrubbery, and prodding proprietor with his umbrella_). "Hul-lo, Hackles, my boy! Ketching lots o' salmon!" _Angler._ "There! Tut-t-t-t--confound you! I should ha' settled that fish if you hadn't come bothering about! Three people coming to dinner without notice, and only chops in the house! You'd better go and tell my wife what you've done"] * * * * * [Illustration: PISCATORIAL POLITENESS. (_From a Yorkshire stream._)--_Privileged Old Keeper_ (_to member of fishing club, of profuse and ruddy locks, who is just about to try for the big trout, a very wary fish_). "Keep yer head doon, sir, keep yer head doon!" (_Becoming exasperated._) "'Ord bou it, man, keep yer head doon! Yer m't as weel come wi' a torch-leet procession to tak' a fish!"] * * * * * [Illustration: SOMETHING LIKE PRESERVATION.--_Irate Individual._ "Are you aware, sir, that you are fishing in preserved water?" _'Arry_ (_not quite so innocent as he would appear_). "Preserved water! And is all the fish _pickled_, then? Bless'd if I've seen any live 'uns about."] * * * * * [Illustration: _Mrs. Brown._ "Well, I must be going in a minute." _Mr. B._ "What for?" _Mrs. B._ "Why, I forgot to order the fish for dinner."] * * * * *