212 BY HOOK AND BY CROOK. 



wound him up to within net distance, hauling against 

 the heavy stream. 



We had three shots at him with the net, but in the 

 most dexterous manner he managed to keep the major 

 portion of his person outside the rim, until at last we 

 made a final effort and stuffed him in with the hand, 

 being mighty glad of it, as we were getting a bit done, 

 having been a prisoner on the rock during the entire 

 performance. We waded to land with him, which was 

 no easy task through the heavy stream, and as he fell 

 from the net the second of the two triangles broke away 

 from the minnow, leaving him free but safely grassed ; 

 so, after all, it was a very near thing. The fish was fresh 

 run and scaled 18 lb. 



We were now glad of a rest while stowing away a 

 few sandwiches, and then started with the same minnow, 

 for, having no other, we were obliged to use it incom- 

 plete, and were soon into another fish, which took the 

 bait just at the edge of the strong water. 



He gave one jump, and we guessed him at about 

 13 lb., but had no means of testing the accuracy of our 

 forecast, as the minnow fell from his jaws while in the 

 air, which was rather hard lines, for had the bait been 

 perfect he would have been safe as houses ; but it served 

 us right for not having been better provided. Fish 

 were taking so well that, somehow or other, we felt 

 pretty sure of a further chance, and as the tail of the 

 pool subsided into slacker water, we determined to fish 

 it with the fly. 



