PLATING A FISH. 77 



While the lad was standing still, struck all of a heap 

 by his misfortune, we ran down the bank and managed 

 to put a foot on the end of the line just before it dis- 

 appeared over the edge, and upon seizing it found that 

 the fish had got off or had stopped his run, as there 

 was no weight upon it. We fully expected to find that 

 the fish had escaped ; however, on the off chance, we 

 threaded the line through the rings, attached it to the 

 reel, and wound it up, or rather the lad did. 



As the reel began to fill there was a perceptible 

 draw on the line from a point a little up stream, and 

 we soon found to the boy's delight that the fish was 

 still on and lying in his old resting-place. After some 

 little time the fish went down again, and we had great 

 difficulty in passing the rod from one to another behind 

 several tall trees which grew at the water-edge, the 

 depth being too great to admit of wading by them; 

 however, we together eventually managed to land 

 him, a fresh-run fish of 24 lb. 



The lad afterwards told us that he had sold the fish 

 for 36s., with which he had purchased new tackle, and 

 we added a cast or two and a few flies upon the under- 

 standing that he would in future eschew the lowly worm. 



When a fish persists in jagging at the line, a method 

 he often adopts when but lightly hooked, the jar on the 

 line and rod can be materially reduced by holding the 

 rod in both hands, keeping it clear of the body ; this is 

 also a good plan when the fish jumps or is likely to 

 do so. 



