54 LARGE SALMON. 



about 451bs. ! his depth (through) appeared about 

 thirteen inches, and his length about four feet* ; 

 but he has never seen its like before or since. 

 The worst luck I wish you is a similar chance, 

 the best, a more successful issue. 



Herb. It does not often happen, I imagine, 

 that fish of such enormous size are taken by the 



fly- 



Theoph. These monsters are by no means 

 numerous, at all events in Great Britain ; the 

 netters take care of that ; although in Norway and 

 in the Rhine, they are more common. The largest 

 fish I ever saw in London, was about the same 

 size (451bs.) ; and that was the admiration of 

 crowds of gazers ; there was one of 49lbs. in 

 Leadenhall Market, in the autumn of 1838, 

 Yarrell refers to one of 551bs, from the Tay, and 

 another of 83lbs. ! ! and some others between 40 

 and 55lbs. Such sizes are indeed rarities, and 

 to have hold of one once in a fisher's life, is to be 

 in luck. Three or four, upwards of 20lbs. are 

 usually taken by the fly every season in this 

 river ; and I think I remember having heard of 

 one about 30lbs. ; large enough to satisfy any 

 moderate piscator. My notion is, that smaller 

 fish only rise more readily at the fly, because they 



* Since this anecdote was related to me, I have, by calculation upon a 

 general scale, proved that such would he about the weight of the fish here 

 alluded to. 



