THREE FISHERS, AND SOME BIG FISH 151 



far side of the river, and there he showed himself 

 struggling in about eight inches of water. The 

 strong tackle bore the strain well ; the sunken part of 

 the line was successfully reeled up, and, but for the 

 bend of the rod, the line was once more horizontal 

 between fish and angler. Now a slow steady pull 

 not only checked his career, but drew him back with 

 a splash into the deep, and the line was reeled up 

 short, so that when he had been carried a little way 

 down he came into the slack water, where fisherman 

 and gaffer were waiting him, but just out of reach. 

 This he repeated twice, but the third time, with two 

 or three feet more reeled up, he came well within 

 reach, and the steel went into him just above the 

 dorsal fin, the left hand came to the rescue of the 

 overtaxed right, and W. Davidson, who had not 

 uttered a syllable during the fifteen minutes' contest, 

 broke the silence with the exclamation : ' The biggest 

 fish I have ever taken out of the Spey.' After the 

 coup de grace had been administered and the fly cut 

 out, both hooks of which were firmly fastened round 

 the lower jawbone, the handle of the gaff was passed 

 through the steelyard, and the salmon hoisted between 

 the shoulders of the exultant couple • but the steel- 

 yard only indicating a maximum of 50 lb., his excess 

 weight was a matter of conjecture. This proved to be 



