150 THE SALMON 



stream, and allowing it to be dragged past his nose in 

 a manner ' quite contrary to the rules of casting.' 

 Three times this was done without success ; but on 

 the fourth occasion there was a wave on the water and 

 a hard pull, and in a second away went 40 yards of 

 line down stream. Mr. Craven was beginning to 

 think of the boat 200 yards below, when the fish 

 suddenly stopped and gave two or three unpleasant 

 tugs ; but, being very firmly hooked, he allowed him- 

 self to be reeled slowly up, and enabled his captor 

 to get ashore. He then made for his old resting- 

 place and began to sulk, but not for long, for he 

 quickly went up stream as fast as he had come down 

 it, and it became a labour of difficulty to keep above 

 him. 



At this point a disagreeable grating feeling in- 

 dicated that the line was rubbing against the edge of the 

 shingle between the rod and the deep water, and it 

 was necessary to take to the water again and get the 

 line perpendicularly over him as he again stopped. 

 At this point Mr. Craven first realised what a 

 monster he had hooked, for although the rod was 

 apparently pointing directly over the fish, the line 

 suddenly ran out at full speed. This was because, 

 having drowned the line under the heavy stream, the 

 salmon was trying to ascend a small ' draw ' on the 



