MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.
Ye Sport of Pvnte Fyshynge off Rychmonde.
[Wedneſday, Auguſt 22, 1049.]
THIS Day to Richmond, to go a Fiſhing on the River, which Larkyns do tell me is rare Sport, and with me Mr. Itchenbrooke, out of Hampſhire, a cunning Angler, who did mightily deſire to ſee what this Sport ſhould be. So firſt we out in a Boat below Richmond Bridge, where a Dozen or more of Punts full of People a Fiſhing, and rowed among them to obſerve the Manner of doing it, which is ſinking with a Gentle, ſitting upon Chairs, and ſmoking Cigars and Pipes of Tobacco, and drinking cold Brandy and Water, and did move Mr. Itchenbrooke to Laughter. We did note one young Spark lying at full Length, in a Punt's End, aſleep, and did conclude he had had enough of the Fiſhing, or elſe of the Brandy and Water. Some very Blent, and bent on their Sport, but others bandying Fun and Jokes, and ſhouting for Joy and Merriment whenever they caught a Fiſh, which Mr. Itchenbrooke do ſay is not the Wont of a Sportſman. Among the Fivhers I did note with Wonder one or two Damſels; but Mr. Wagstaffe do ſay it is a common Thing for Ladies to fiſh for Gudgeons. Several of them alſo quite old Men; but ſeeming as much taken up with their Fiſhing as Schoolboys, though catching Nothing but little Fiſh not a Span long. So, ſatisfied with looking at the Sportſmen, we to try the Quality of the Sport ourſelves, and did
