In Victorian London, mud larks were children who a) (SEARCH FOR) valuable bits and pieces on the shores of the River Thames. They b) (NOT DO) this from boats, but c) (WAIT) until the tide d) (GO) out, and then e) (CRAWL) about in the river mud looking for anything valuable.

Henry Mayhew, a Victorian writer, f) (INTERVIEW) a mud lark in his book about poor working people in London in the 1850's.

"My family is Irish though I was born in London. My father g) (WORK) at London Docks. He is a strong-bodied man of 34. I h) (GO) to school with my brothers for about three years and i) (LEARN) reading and writing and arithmetic. One of my brothers j) (BE) at sea for past five years. I k) (WORK) in the neighbourhood of Millwall picking up pieces of coal and iron, copper and bits of canvas on the surface.

"When bargemen carry coal to the shore some of it m) (FALL) in the mud and we n) (PICK IT UP). The most I o) (EVER SEE) my companions find is one shilling's worth a day. There are usually thirteen or fourteen mud larks, boys and girls, around Limehouse in the summer and six boys steadily in the winter.

"When a bargeman p) (GET HOLD) of one, he generally q) (THROW) them into the river. The police boat r) (CHASE) me two or three times. One night I s) (SEE) a large piece of copper drop down where they t) (REPAIR) a ship. That evening as a ship u) (COME) out of the docks, I v) (STRIP OFF) my clothes and w) (DIVE) down several feet, x) (SEIZE) the piece of copper and later y) (SELL) it to a marine dealer."