24 SALMONID^. 



either to bteak tackle, lose fisli, 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 Hke 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. K you had 

 seen me follow that fish down 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 



