38 STUDIES OF NATURE 



the waves, a fish that had no business to take 

 so small a hook the fool of his race, I suppose. 

 It is no easy matter to land him, and just at 

 the critical moment the line breaks ; but our 

 young fisherman makes a bold dart he only 

 just missed joining the fish in the water and 

 dexterously slips his hands under the open 

 gills. It is my turn now ; and, seeing what is 

 almost sure to happen, I seize boy and fish at 

 once and fling them both into the bottom of the 

 boat. 



When we have settled down and have time 

 to look round we find that we have caught 

 i, fine specimen of that voracious rascal, the 

 herring-hake. He is about three feet long and 

 not unlike the salmon in colour. He lashes 

 about wildly among the whiting, and for a few 

 minutes we have to hold him down. The small 

 fry must have wondered much what Triton it 

 was that had come amongst them. 



And now, lads, pull home ; the larder is 



