IN PRAISE OF CHUB 211 



against the rod-butt, and a vigorous strike proved too 

 much for the gut. Another plunge, and the chub was 

 gone with the coachman. This was vexatious, for the 

 loss of a fish that has been hooked generally frightens 

 the shoal. The rule is not quite invariable, however, 

 so another fly was put on and cast a little higher up, 

 in the hope that the other chub might not have noticed 

 the little contretemps. This seemed to be the case, for 

 a rise followed immediately. There was no mistake 

 about the strike this time, and the reel screamed as 

 the hook went home, continuing to scream as the fish 

 dashed off. A chub's first rush is formidable, and with 

 fine gut it is no good trying to stop it ; but if the fish 

 does not break, then it ought to be landed safely and 

 speedily. Before long the fight was over, and a fish of 

 one and a half pounds was in the net, tapped on the 

 head, and thrown out into the meadow, where the 

 creel had been left. 



Then the fly was again thrown towards the bushes. 

 Another fish took it immediately, and was landed in 

 the same manner as the first, to which it might have 

 been a twin brother. Then two smaller ones, of about 

 one and a quarter pounds, each came to the net, and 

 were returned. In a good chub river nothing under 

 one and a half pounds is really worth keeping, unless 

 local taste in the matter of fish-diet is very responsive ; 

 but big chub will sometimes find grateful recipients in 

 the country, as will be seen. After the brace of small 

 ones had been returned a two-pounder was landed, 

 and after that several more fish of about one and a half 

 pounds. By the end of half an hour there must have 

 been a dozen or more on the bank, and the sport 



