102 SALMONIA. [fourth day. 



drown the fly with a blow of his tail. I fear you 

 will not hook him except foul, when most likely 

 he would break you. Try the bottom of the pool, 

 below where I caught my fish. 



POIET. — I have tried all the casts and nothing rises. 



HAL. — Come, we will change the fly for that which 

 I used. 



POIET. — Now I have one; he has taken the fly 

 under water, and I cannot see him. 



HAL. — Straighten your line, and we shall soon see 

 him. He is a sea trout, but not a large one. 



POIET. — But he fights like a salmon, and must be 

 near 5 lbs. 



HAL. — Under 3 lbs. ; but these fish are always 

 strong and active, and sometimes give more sport 

 than larger fish. Shorten your line, or he will carry 

 you over the stones and cut the link gut. He is 

 there already; you have allowed him to carry out 

 too much line : wind up as quick as you can, and 

 keep a tight hand upon him. He is now back to a 

 good place, and in a few minutes more will be spent. 

 I have the net. There, he is a sea trout of nearly 

 3 lbs. This will be a good addition to our dinner; 

 I will crimp him, that you may compare boiled sea 

 trout with broiled, and with salmon. Now, if you 

 please, we will cool this fish at the spring, and then 

 go to our inn. 



