170 BY ROOK AND BY CBOOK. 



opposite bank he ploughed his way up stream almost 

 under the overhanging boughs, keeping to the slack 

 water. 



We did not care much about this game, so reeled 

 up tight and gave it him hard, to which he replied 

 by a straight run down stream of at least 60 yards, 

 then suddenly stopped, rose to the surface and lashed 

 out, absolutely refusing to budge a yard in any 

 direction. 



For the same reason as Mahomet, under certain cir- 

 cumstances, is said to have approached the mountain, 

 we dropped down to the fish, reeling up as we went, 

 and shortly netted a fine fish of 23 lb. weight — but, 

 alas ! a kelt ! so back to the water he went. 



Neither of us was much disappointed, as his selection 

 of the slack water when a bit done had more than 

 raised our suspicions, and it was only on the off chance 

 that we continued operations in the orthodox manner. 

 This was an exceptionally well-mended fish, and in the 

 water appeared so bright that it was almost impossible 

 to accurately tell his condition ; the vent was small 

 and fairly flush with the belly line, and many a fresh 

 fish have we seen no better filled out; however, the 

 girth round the body across the vent, with the general 

 appearance of head and tail and absence of that blue- 

 green shade down the back, left no room for doubt, so 

 back he went into the pool, where he lay like a log 

 until, at length recovered, he sought the depths. 



Kelts, more especially in late spring, are sometimes 



