were being rebaited I hauled in my line to find that
it was in the same condition.

By the time Bob's lead was at the bottom, my hooks were being covered
with mussel, and I threw in again.

As mine reached the sandy ooze, and I held the line in one hand, there
was a slight vibration of the lead, but it passed away again, and I
fished, to pull up again at the end of a few minutes and find both baits
gone.

Bob's were the same, and so we fished on till he declared that it was of
no use, that it was the tide washed the bait off, and that there wasn't
a fish within a hundred yards. "But I'm sure there are lots," said
Bigley. "Why, how can you tell?" cried Bob. "You can't see two feet
down through the water, it's so muddy."

"I know by the baits being taken off," replied Bigley decidedly. "There
are fish here I'm sure, and--"

"I've got him," I shouted, beginning to haul in, for I could feel
something heavy at the end of the line which had given several sharp
snatches as I hauled.

"Oh, what a shame!" cried Bob. "I don't see why they should come first
to old Sep. Here, I know what it is. Only an old bow-wow."

"No, it isn't," I exclaimed as I caught a glimpse of something white,
looking like a slice of the moon far down below the boat. "It's a
flat-fish, and a big one."

I proved to be right, as I hauled it flapping over the side, and Bigley
seized what proved to be a nice plaice, and took the hook from its jaws.

As the line, being rebaited, was thrown in again, there was a serious
examination of the prize, which was about to be transferred to the
basket brought to hold our captures, when Bob shouted, "I've got him!"
and began to haul in with all his might.

We both adjured him to be careful, but in his excitement he paid no
heed, only dragged as hard as he could, and hoisted in a long grey fish,
at which he gazed with a comical aspect full of disgust.

I laughed, and as I laughed he grew more angry, for his prize was what
he had previously called a "bow-wow" and attributed to me. For it was a
good-sized dog-fish, one which had to be held at head and tail lest in
its twining and lashing about it should strike with its spine and do
some mischief.

"Here, let me take him off," cried Bob.

"No, no; you mind the line isn't tangled," cried Bigley; but Bob gave
him a push, the dog-fish, which was nearly a yard long, was set free,
and began to journey about amongst Bob's line, while, when he placed his
f