120 Br HOOK AND BY CBOOS:. 



at the line, it is a good plan to take tlic rod in both 

 hands, one high np and the other below the reel, the 

 rod being held quite clear of the body, by this means 

 the jar on the line is not so great as if the butt of the 

 rod were held against the groin. 



Finding these tactics of no avail, and being no doubt 

 somewhat exhausted by his efforts, he once more re- 

 turned to the middle of the stream and endeavoured to 

 settle down for further resistance ; out here he was out 

 in his calculations, as he had taken too much out of 

 himself to be able to resist the power of the rod, and 

 began to roll in a way that foretold the end was not 

 far oft"; however, he gallantly pulled himself together 

 for one more effort, but the now gradually shortening 

 line was more than he could combat as it steadily 

 hauled him to bank. 



Our friend incautiously showed himself while ap- 

 proaching to use the gaff, and even then the fish made 

 a short run, his last, as soon he was towed to the 

 bank and the gaff did its work — although so exhausted 

 was he, that, had the nature of the bank permitted, he 

 might easily have been tailed. 



We weighed her, a clean-run hen fish of 18 lb., as 

 bright as the proverbial new shilling; and although 

 not a large fish, and killed as late as November, we 

 cannot recollect having fought a gamer one during the 

 40 minutes' sport she gave us. 



After a short rest and a pipe we continued to fish 

 down, and were casting in a bit of a swirl, when a big 



