FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



173 



soon get initiated. There ! you have got a bite, and a good one, too ; haul 

 steadily away, you'll find sixty fathoms a long haul, but that won't trouble 

 you after a day or so. He's alongside, take him aboard with the gaff. I've 

 got a pair coming, too. That won't do, however ; your hands will soon get 

 torn and scratched if you try to unhook the fish before killing him. Hit 

 him on the head with a short stick the first thing after you get him on deck. 

 There's a knack, too, in unhooking ; see how easy it comes to me — a twist 

 and a jerk, and it's all done. Faster and faster the fish begin to come ; 

 everybody working like beavers ; the fish hooking themselves as fast as the 

 lines reach the bottom. What a scene of animation ! Some gaffing in fish, 

 others killing, some unhooking, and others, again, clearing a foul. H-s-s, 

 h-s-s, see your lines ! By Jove ! my boy, you've got a halibut on. Easy 

 now. That fish is worth a five-dollar bill to you if you get him up. There 

 he snubs — give him line — don't hold him too hard, or he will break the 

 gear. He is beginning to stay his downward course — hold him. Now he 

 runs up ; take in the line smartly, or he may unhook himself. H-s-s, h-s-s, 

 he's taking another downward dive and making the line smoke again. Stand 

 by to haul him away as he tires. Up he runs again. Keep him well in 



[got a halibut on.] 



hand now ; stand by with gafifs, here, two or three hands. There he heaves 

 in sight. A one hundred and fifty pounder, at least. Stick the gaffs in his 

 head, and be sure to get a good hold. Now, then, yeo ! heave-ho ! all to- 

 gether ! up with his flat lordship. Slap, oh ! he falls on deck, and such a 

 floundering, thrashing time of it you never saw. Hit him a tap or two with 

 the killer just over the nose. That quiets him. Now get him away clear 

 of the gear, and heave your lucky line over again. 



