! 14 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



I will proceed to relate the result. Having cut a 

 piece of fat about the dimensions of a mature 

 tobacco worm — three inches in length by a quarter 

 of an inch in breadth — I inserted the barb through 

 one end, wound the remainder of the bait round the 

 shank of the hook, then passed the bait again over 

 it, leaving an attractive fag end. This glistened 

 magnificently in the water as long as it could be 

 seen ; in fact, it showed as much as if it had been 

 rubbed with phosphorus. All was now expectation ; 

 the float remained stationary, or circled round in 

 abbreviated circles. At length it commenced to bob 

 up and down, then disappeared suddenly, as if intent 

 on diving to the other side of the river. I struck 

 hard and sharp, had a few minutes' resistance, and 

 landed a barber (Silurus) about ten pounds in weight. 

 Again the same formula was repeated with the same 

 result, only the prize was larger. At length I hooked 

 and secured a thirty-pounder. In spite of the 

 strength of my tackle, I had to exercise a certain 

 amount of forbearance in its treatment. The 

 struggle was a long one ; in it was displayed none 

 of the dash of the salmon, but it was characterised 

 by a dogged resolution that deserved commendation. 

 Several times the victim was brought to the surface, 

 but it had a marked objection to dry land, so dashed 

 off again for its favourite retreats. If there had 

 been any submerged roots or trunks of trees, I must 

 have lost my fish, but the place seemed to be toler- 



