24 SALMO^IDJE. 



either to break tackle, lose fish, or perchance drown myself. 

 The rapid return of the fish made a frightful sag in my line, 

 and I was " taking in slack " as rapidly as possible, when the 

 extra strain of the line drawing down the current wakened 

 up his ideas ; and, giving a short leap clear of the water, he 

 darted down stream like a rocket. How the hook kept fast 

 in his jaws all this time was a mystery. Zip went the reel 

 with a velocity that almost struck fire; into the water 

 leaped the rod, following the fish ; and after the rod floun- 

 dered I, still clinging to the but. I did not say my prayers, 

 but I had just time to think how much it would cost to re- 

 pair my Baguelin watch, when my feet touched gravel at the 

 head of the rapid, and one risk was canceled. If you had 

 seen me follow that fish $own stream, you would have been 

 delighted at my good fortune in circumventing obstacles. 

 The river was full of boulders, and there was great and imme- 

 diate danger of getting my line fouled. But I presently got 

 control of my game, and gave him the but handsomely and 

 * after that he didn't run faster than I wished. The fellow 

 had me at a disadvantage, and the wonder was how I ever 

 got him at all ; but when I emptied the water out of my 

 long boots, I felt glad that I had bagged that fish. But I 

 have always worn low shoes since, when fishing. 



Doubtless there is an exultant, pulse-compelling pride in 

 landing a monster salmon of indefinite weight, which does not 

 pertain to ordinary or extraordinary trout-fishing ; but as to the 

 comparative merits of the two species, it is a question in my 

 mind which should be voted the nobler game. Their habits, 

 haunts and characteristics are identical in many respects ; and 

 excepting in size, one may be justly regarded the peer of the 

 other. This single difference may be adjusted, as I have shown, 

 by a proper adaptation of the tackle employed to capture 

 them. It is certainly rougher work to kill a salmon, and vast- 

 ly more fatiguing : and at times the sport is positively dan- 

 gerous. As respects collateral pleasures derived from natural 

 surroundings and associations, it may be remarked that trout 



