86 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



you direct on your game ; which comes nearest 

 the mediums of art, and the rules and rudiments 

 of your precedent directions. 



But this great wound is easily solv'd ; for if, 

 when to discover your fish fag his fins, you 

 may rationally conclude he then struggles with 

 death ; and then is your time to trifle him a 

 shore on some smooth shelf of sand, where you 

 may boldly land him, before his scales encoun- 

 ter the soil, which he no sooner apprehends by 

 the prospect of death approaching ; as a dying 

 man that grasps every twig, because thinking 

 thereby to save himself; so will your game ex- 

 tinguish his strength, and blaze out the flames 

 of his life with a struggle. 



Another expedient is the landing-net, or the 

 landing- rod, which I rather approve of; let the 

 swim be deep, or let it be shallow, we direct 

 this artifice to amuse the fish, and facilitate his 

 destruction, when he struggles with difficulties : 

 Notwithstanding all this, some hazards must be 

 encountred, by the more ingenious that flies 

 high at his game. Incomparable sport the sal- 

 mon makes, and so did this, for he made me 

 laugh. 



TheopJi. Why so severe to run at my misfor- 

 tune ? take the rod if you please, and display 

 your skill, lie defy all your art to discover such 

 a fish ; though unfortunate, I must confess, to 



