114 Sporting Sketches in Pen and Pencil. 



pounder puts in, but they are not numerous, though pound-and-a-halfers are 

 common." 



He had had a bite, and struck a fish; at first he thought he bad 

 got hold of a stump it lay so stUl; then it began going slowly, but 

 steadily and irresistibly, up the stream ; then quickened its pace a bit, 

 and took out two or three yards off the reel with a rush ; and then — then — 

 the hook came away, and that was all. 



" Ah ! hooked him foul for a dollar. I lost one just like that yesterday 

 and I think I can show you what it was." I pop a lively red worm on my 

 hook into the swim, and after three or four swims the float gives warning, 

 and I strike. There is a short struggle, and then something goes with a 

 steady irresistible rush up stream a dozen yards or more, and we hear 

 the delicious music of the reel. 



" My eye !" says Jork, " what can it be ? " 



"Bream," quo' I, "and a big 'un — four or five pounds at least!" 

 Perhaps that pair of bellows didn't visit every hole and corner under 

 the bank and all round about for some twenty or thirty yards or so ; for, 

 having only single hair, I couldn't bully him. After a strong and longish 

 fight, however, I worked him down, and we got a sight of him. 



"My eye!" quo' Jork again ; " how shall we get him iato the 

 net ? " 



" It won't be easy ; but when he is quite beat we'll do our best." 



It was not by any means- easy ; but at length, and with great care, 

 we did manage to bowk him out somehow ; he weighed over 51b. ; and 

 a beautiful fish he was — as all the fish in my stream are — shaped just 

 like a big pair of bellows, all olive and silver, and no slime. Then 

 Jorkins got hold of one that gave him even more sport ; but at last, 

 after a desperate fight and many mulls and much excitement, I spooned 

 him out too, and he weighed half a pound more than mine. Then I 

 hooked another that I thought was bigger than either, but he broke me 

 in his rush under the opposite bank. By the time I had repaired 

 damage everything was off ; and, putting in a few balls of bait, we 

 rested the swim, and went down to the other. Here Jorkins got three 

 or four nice fish ; but the shoal was away at the other end, aad the 



